Project FINE Nature Immersion

Last year during our “Give to the Max Day” campaign, we raised approximately $1,200 to cover the cost of a nature immersion for the Project FINE youth program. We hosted this nature immersion this August with 14 participants, 1 translator, and 2 WOC staff (Miranda and Claire).

Project FINE is a local organization whose mission is to strengthen and enrich our community by facilitating the integration of people who are ethnically diverse. Project FINE provides language services, and programs on navigation community systems, building communities, and empowering youth.

The group engaged in a number of great activities including hiking, biking, swimming, crafts, bingo, kickball, team-building exercises and so much more. They even learned some basic camping skills like fire building, setting up tents and sleeping arrangements, hammocking, plant identification, and food preparation. Whitewater State Park provided a workshop with a Nature Interpreter who guided the group on how to make bracelets out of stinging nettle, the importance of harvesting it appropriately, and all of the other uses it provides. For most of the participants this was their first time ever camping so it was important to mix in some familiar games with new ones in order to make sure everyone felt comfortable and confident in participating.

Our crew reported back that they learned alot about the importance of being open and adaptive while facilitating, especially when there is a communication barrier. In a way, these language differences fostered a sense of community; when someone didn’t understand an instruction or a task, everyone grouped together to help make sure facilitators and participants were on the same page. That was beautiful to see happen on a small scale. That says a lot about how sharing a common space in the outdoors, doing everything you need/want to do to successfully camp, can help others celebrate differences and use them as a learning tool for the future.