MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2016 - page 62

CHALLENGE
My kid isn’t a natural athlete
SOLUTION
Set them free with the folks at Free Spirit
Tours
“We do get some parents who say my kids
aren’t really that athletic,” explains Free
Spirit Tours' Jennie Elmslie. “This is a perfect
camp for those kids because it allows them
to be who they are and try something new
in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The
kids are always cheering each other on.”
For children who don’t feel as comfortable
in the conventional “athletic” mould,
an emphasis onmore self-led and less
structured activities can be just the ticket
to bringing them outdoors and keeping
them active. In their 18
th
year of offering
guided rock climbing, caving and paddling
excursions, the folks at Free Spirit Tours
have seen first hand how the outdoors can
lead to positive and lasting change. For the
last 14 years, they have offered a summer
camp program and have seen kids grow
up with the program to become Leaders in
Training and then Leaders themselves. In
the outdoors, kids learn to work together, to
urge each on and tomake decisions about
how far and how high they’ll climb.
"It allowskids tobewho theyare
and trysomethingnew inasafe, non-
judgmental environment. Thekidsare
always cheeringeachother on.”
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