- Refugee teens participated in a three-day camp exploring Utah's outdoors.
- The camp, part of 'Every Kid Outdoors,' had activities aimed to build confidence and community integration.
MORGAN — About 40 refugee teens spent three days at a special camp designed to help them try Utah's great outdoors. Their days included activities that many of them have never done before.
Some of those were as simple as camping, hiking and making s'mores. The group spent Friday on East Canyon Reservoir, kayaking, sailing and enjoying games along the beach.
Anas Mohammed, a Syrian who came to Utah with his family from Iraq two years ago, said he was enjoying all of it.
"It was so perfect," Mohammed said. "I had a lot of fun time since yesterday, with my friends and the staff."
The camp, hosted by the DNR's Division of Outdoor Recreation, is a part of Utah's Every Kid Outdoors Adventure Challenge. The division has held similar events since it was founded in 2022, but this was their first effort specifically aimed at refugee youth.
"We're here to get every kid outdoors experiencing something new, to get them off their phones," said Caroline Weiler, the Division of Outdoor Recreation youth engagement program manager."We know the benefits of getting outside (are) so good for our mental and physical well-being."
The division partnered with several nonprofit organizations to make the event happen, including International Rescue Committee and Summit Journeys, which has a similar mission to get kids to experience the outdoors.
"As we teach some sailing skills or paddling skills we're really (saying), 'How can they navigate their way through a new culture and get where they want to go in life,'" said Summit Journeys Executive Director Martin Frey.
"We're really enabling them to build confidence and self-efficacy and belief in their own capability to achieve their goals and also increase their tolerance for uncertainty."
Saige Palsson, education program supervisor with the International Rescue Committee, said many of the youth responded positively to the outdoor activities and expressed interest in getting out again soon. They add that activities like this can be important in helping them feel like a part of the community around them.
"Refugees and new Americans are coming from unquestionably difficult circumstances," Palssen said. "They're in kind of this survival mode when they come to the United States."
