The Community Hiking Club, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita and the Friends of the Inyo sponsored a trip to the Potential Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra for young campers from the Santa Clarita Boys and Girls Club.

The kids had a fabulous time exploring the potential wilderness areas on the Coyote Plateau near Bishop.

They hiked into Green and Brown lakes with guide Todd Vogel from the Friends of the Inyo. For many of them, this was their first experience outside of Santa Clarita. They learned how to pack for an overnight trip, altitude physiology and experienced first-hand the effects of altitude.

Not only were they amazed by the beauty of the lakes and the surrounding areas, but they were also determined to leave it better than they found it. Boys and Girls Club manager Matt Nelson explained the LNT (Leave No Trace) principle.

They then decided to do a stewardship event, and they found themselves picking up trash, removing inappropriate fire rings and cleaning campsite refuse which consisted of about 30 pounds of trash, including broken bottles, rusted beer cans, and assorted detritus.

Nelson and Vogel answered the kids' questions about public land, wilderness and stewardship.

The kids were so impressed with their experience that they decided to write to Congressman McKeon to thank him for his work to preserve wilderness for future generations, and decided to return to the area to celebrate when the wilderness bill is passed.

The boys loved being outdoors. They loved the freedom and beauty of the wilderness. Learning how to survive on very little in that rugged environment taught them responsibility, teamwork and self-discipline.

They are very proud of the stewardship work they did as they learned we all make an impact, and it is up to them to make it a positive one.

The Boys and Girls Club is located at 24909 Newhall Ave. near Hart High School in Newhall. It exists to inspire and enable all youth to realize their full potential as caring, productive, responsible and healthy citizens.

The boys who went on the trip were Darren Young, Ethan Garcia, Michael Guerrero, Justin Garcia, and Kip Friedman.

This trip was funded by grants through the National Forest Foundation, Wilderness Stewardship Challenge Grant and Patagonia.