Tommy Fu of Rice University took part in the Camp Campbell, YMCA of the Redwoods Alternative Spring Break. Here is what he had to say about his amazing experience:

The journey from thriving metropolis to the great outdoors is one that many before us have made. Ours took us from the urban jungle of Houston to the serene Redwood forests of northern California. It was there that a week of working with elementary school kids at a nature camp led us to rediscover the wilderness and the ways in which we are all tied to it.

Some of us came for the scenery, some for the kids, and some for the escape of California itself. As someone with a younger sibling, what brought me along was the belief that an introduction to nature was one of the simplest, yet most effective, ways for kids to begin to realize that they are part of a bigger world. Compared to most alternative spring breaks (ASB) that help people rebound from already existing problems, our trip was unique in that we were trying to preserve something that was already good. The focus on positivity and hope, rather than adversity, let our fun boost the success and spirit of the program.

Beyond our excitement to work with kids and take in the outdoors, we knew that our patience would be put to the test. The question that hovered over our heads, perhaps more so than the giant redwoods themselves, was whether we could handle the magnitude of each being responsible for eight to 10 fifth- and sixth-graders 24/7 and teach them to love something they had never encountered before.

As it turned out, we were collectively blown away by their capacity to recognize the importance of seemingly microscopic information on a greater level. During a river study, a camper who had found a water penny used his knowledge of its sensitivity to pollution to make the broader observation that the river habitat itself was clean. These moments, when we witnessed the kids making connections on their own, made our trip worthwhile.

Nestled deep in the forests and mountains of Northern California, this camp gives kids from cities a glimpse into a simpler world that they otherwise may have never known. Its unique "truddy" (triple buddy) system was extremely conducive to developing the same sense of collective responsibility that we hoped they would apply to the environment. Camp Campbell became a great equalizer for the diversity of people that took part in this experience. We came together from Texas and California, from high schools and college campuses, but in the end, we all ate the same food, took in the same majestic scenery and were bound by the same realization that what the camp itself was about was much bigger than any one of us.

What we are taking away, or bringing with us, from this ASB experience is hope. It is our hope that these campers will one day volunteer as cabin leaders themselves and introduce to future generations all that nature has to offer. As guardians who watched them grow, we were granted a renewed confidence that as long as we continue to plant the seeds of awareness, these forests will always have a fighting chance to stick around.

ASBs traditionally focus on one major issue. Initially we were unsure whether our issue would be nature or the education of younger generations. It's not until now that we realize how closely the two were connected, and how greatly that connection will impact the future of our environments.

- Tommy Fu, Rice University