Environmentally-friendly youth unite for park cleanups Published Aug. 9, 2011 By Nechel Newton 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Air Force Training Responsible Adolescents in Leadership Skills camp came to a close July 29 after a 12-day and 11-night journey that covered 1,200 miles of various national and state parks within five states. The AFTRAILS camp offered the luxuries of camping along with a self-fulfilling sense of accomplishment that came with keeping parks and the environment in good health. This year's teen camp program had about 50 teens, ages 14-18, touring national and state parks while cleaning up debris and trash within the park compounds and nearby areas. "There was a Marianna County Park director who said this was the best park cleanup he had ever seen," said Del Mucci, Hurlburt Field Teen Center director. "A program like this helps kids to become more resilient." The teen camp program also helped teens hone leadership skills. AFTRAILS staff challenged them with physically and mentally demanding teambuilding and leadership puzzles. The teens also learned about the different environments they camped in and the challenges each one presented. "We want kids to see helping out their community and environment as a strength," Mucci said. The teens also received hands-on experience and developed new outdoor skills such as hiking, camping, kayaking, mountain climbing and white-water rafting. "The state parks help to evolve our program to make it better each year and provide community service opportunities," Mucci said. "The amenities we receive in return for volunteer work are free park stay, free canoe use and equipment for cleaning up the parks." It is the sense of accomplishment and the knowledge gained that Mucci hopes teens get out of the experience the most. "We want this experience to correlate with what these kids' parents are doing working in the armed forces," Mucci said. "It just goes to show at any age you can show support and get that feeling of worth because you're tied to something bigger." For more information on AFTRAILS camp, contact the Hurlburt Field Youth Center at 884-6938.