ALAMOSA — This year’s spring break at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley looked a bit different this year. With such nice weather in the San Luis Valley, the staff decided to take the kids on adventures outside the club and into the great outdoors.

Day one included a hike up to the frozen Zapata Falls where the kids enjoyed sliding around on nature’s very own frozen slides! Not only did they hike the falls, but they also hiked a bit of the Great Sand Dunes and slid around yet again down the dunes on sand boards.

As if day one weren’t fun enough, the second day included a hike up to Treasure Falls on Wolf Creek Pass. This not so frozen falls gave the kids an even bigger waterfall experience and tested their hiking skills on a snow packed trail. There was a bit of sliding around on this hike too! From there the crew headed to Pagosa Springs where they played, had lunch by the river and stopped at the delicious Malt Shoppe on the way out of town.

Saving the best for last, the crew made their way out to Salida to go to Captain Zipline’s Aerial Park on the third and final day of adventures! The kids (and staff) conquered all the fears going from easy routes to tougher and higher courses! The kids pushed each other to out their fears aside and do more than they ever thought they could.

You know it was a good couple days when the bus rides home are full of sleeping kiddos. These trips were funded largely from a grant the club and other community organizations received from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), a non-profit organization based in Denver. Funding clubs like ours is only a small part of what they to for our community and getting kids and their families outside. Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley is lucky to be a part of such a great group of inspired and dedicated people working towards getting kids exploring and learning in the great outdoors.

Captions: Boys & Girls Club youth enjoy a trip to the frozen Zapata Falls one of the special outing days during spring break./Photos courtesy B & G club

The sand dunes park was a popular destination for the Boys & Girls Club during spring break.

Youth and staff from the Boys & Girls Club embrace adventure at Captain Zipline’s Aerial Park during spring break.