NEWS ARCHIVE FALL '19
Links to Fall ‘19 stories & images
Join the Fun to Fund ICO Outings with City Kids!
Singer/Songwriter…
MELANIE SPECTOR performs solo and with her band at various venues around Las Vegas.
It’s that time of year again! Come to enjoy Las Vegas ICO’s major event to thank donors, volunteers, and other friends as you help us cover the expenses of outings for urban youth in our area. The Annual ICO Fundraiser will be Friday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bridge World Club, 5580 W. Flamingo Rd., Suite 101 Las Vegas, NV 89103
There is no admission charge. We will provide light bites and refreshments. Wine and beer will be available for a small recommended donation. We have exciting raffle items plus silent and live auctions.The raffle will feature a variety of “themed” baskets—ranging from coffee to children’s art to chocolate from around the world!Our live auction will be particularly exciting. We will auction “seats” for great experiences, including a repeat of last year’s very popular trip to Gold Butte—but this time to the very popular Little Finland!! Something should interest every member of your family.
While browsing the items you can enjoy live music courtesy of Melanie Spector, who plans a mix of folk and rock. She performs solo and with her trio at various venues around Las Vegas.
Highlighting the event will be a slideshow of the children who we serve and their adventures outdoors. We will give an overview of the past year’s accomplishments and our plans.
This is a terrific event every year. Please join us. Help us keep giving great outdoor experiences to children and young adults who might otherwise never leave the city.All of us with Las Vegas ICO look forward to seeing our long-time friends and meeting a few new ones. See you on the 18th of October!—Janet Carter, ICO Fundraiser Coordinator and Hike Leader
NPHY clients enjoying cool sunshine at the Spring Mt. NRA Visitor Center.
NPHY staff, clients and ICO leaders enjoy a shade break on the Fletcher Canyon trail.
‘Like a Spin Class with a view’
Our outing to Fletcher Canyon with the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) kids had some interesting dynamics with the seven youth participants being 18+ years old. They enjoyed our stop to the visitor center (Gateway to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area), taking particular interest in the monument to the 1955 plane crash victims. Some in the group had boundless energy. Leadership and support was given by five of us—two ICO leaders and three agency staff. —Dave Richards
IN THEIR WORDS:
“It’s like a spin class but with a view!”
“He likes my energy,” said by one young man as a lizard allowed him to get surprisingly close before scurrying away.
Leaders of the Future escape Last Vegas heat at Mt. Charleston with their ICO leaders.
Walnut Center ‘Tribe’ Bonds at Mt. Charleston
Seven youth, ages 13-16, from Walnut Center's Leaders of the Future summer camp enjoyed July in the mountains. The group hiked a loop trail to Wild Horse Canyon Ridge enjoying cooler mountain air, an abundance of wildflowers, a flowing spring that fed a large field of Scented Shooting Star plants, and spectacular views from the ridge. This was a tight-knit group of friends who enjoyed interacting with one another to the point of seeming to be oblivious to their surroundings; yet, when it came time to sharing their experience, several commented that they enjoyed being in nature with their friends.—Barbara Gerhardt, ICO Hike Leader
Cambridge Center kids made themselves at home at Robber’s Roost
CAMBRIDGE KIDS SUDDENLY ENERGIZED AT rOBBER’S rOOST
Seven kids, from Cambridge Community Center, ages 6 to 13, were ready to head out for cooler temps at Robber's Roost in the Spring Mountains in mid-July. Several youth, who were recognized from a previous ICO outing to the Valley of Fire, were stoked to visit a place they’ve never been before.
At the parking lot across from the trailhead. Co-leader Miss Michelle distributed a creative handout describing Leave No Trace principles, leading to an important discussion on the subject.The kids were familiar with the principles and led the discussion without hesitation.
As the hike began. some kids said their feet hurt—after the first 50 feet! Thankfully, the “pain” was soon forgotten as the group ascended the trail and the pace quickened. As we encountered the lone Ponderosa Pine along the trail, each child took a sniff at the bark and described what they were smelling. One exclaimed “cotton candy!" while another smelled "maple," and still another said, "bleach."
Then, suddenly, the cave appeared before us. It was the fastest I've ever hiked with a group of children to Robber's Roost. Climbing ensued up to the cave, where quiet Jacob quickly claimed "his room in this house."
After lunch and more exploring of the surrounding area, the group descended Robber's Roost. Our adventure ended at the visitor's center, where the children discovered all the nature displays of the Spring Mountains.Just outside, we viewed the airplane propeller from the 1950's crash, then took cover under shade to play the "decomposition game," which the children did quite well in identifying those items that decomposed faster than others. Finally, Aaron, an Americorps volunteer, graciously gave us a spontaneous talk on the Paiute tribe and the surrounding area.—Cynthia Regidor, ICO Hike Leader
IN THEIR WORDS:
“This is tough. We never work this hard in basketball!” said Heaven, 13, panting heavily. Her younger peer, William, 11, authoritatively responded, “You need to work on your cardio!”
"I'm glad we are all looking out for one another!" said Jeremiah after one girl stumbled slightly without hurting herself and some of the others asked if she was okay.
Newly certified and re-certified leaders, at center, from left, Freda Russell, Jody Scimone, and Sharon Brashear are flanked by trainers Barbara Gerhardt, left, and Janet Carter
ICO TRAINING CERTIFIES LEADER READINESS FOR SUCCESSFUL OUTINGS
Every time an ICO leader conducts an outing, the life and safety of each participant is in their hands. It is their responsibility to ensure the outings are carried out in a safe manner and that chances of accidents are reduced. It is through ICO's Outdoor Leadership Training 101 that new leaders learn and improve their leadership skills.
On Saturday, August 3rd, two new leaders and one renewing leaders participated in Leadership Training 101. Through this day-long training, leaders become familiar with the standards and expectations of an ICO leader, leader responsibilities, group management strategies, emergency response procedures, CARP (Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention), and Leave No Trace principles.
LVICO welcomes two new leaders, Sharon Brashear and Freda Russell, and one renewing leader, Jody Scimone. ICO Outdoor Leadership Training certification is valid for four years.—Betty Gallifent.. Las Vegas ICO Chair
Fall '19: Boosting Las Vegas ICO's Visibility
More than ever before, ICO’s stories are spreading near and far. The Fall ‘19 edition of LVICO News, the emailed quarterly newsletter, has just launched a redesign with larger text and photos to tell about the latest adventures of urban youth exploring natural wonders with ICO volunteers. This enhancement is thanks to the support of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club.
The refreshed e-newsletter serves also a teaser for LVICO News on this—our new, dynamic website—where more information and photos are posted.
STILL MORE NEWS! Our goal is to grow ICO's community of friends, volunteers, and supporters by modernizing our outreach. So, we have expanded ICO social media platforms. Now, there are three:
Twitter: https://TWITTER.COM/LASOUTDOORS
Meetup: https://WWW.MEETUP.COM/LAS-VEGAS-INSPIRING-CONNECTIONS-OUTDOORS-LVICO/
Facebook: https://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/LASVEGASINSPIRINGCONNECTIONSOUTDOORS/
Plus, coming soon: Instagram
Your comments and ideas are welcome! Email us lasvegasico702@gmail