Dan's Urban Studies Zions Camp /Chicago Trip

Dan was invited to go to Chicago with the Social Work Program this year. He was gone for two weeks. The first three days were spent in Chicago, and then on the fourth day, they picked up 33 LDS disadvantaged youth from the inner city and took them to Victor Idaho to camp for a week and a half. A group of church members in Chicago started the Inner City Youth Foundation where they donate money each year so that these disadvantaged boys can go to Victor Idaho to camp out for a week and a half. They stayed at Dick Jacobsen's Ranch, (Sky Mountain Ranch)in Victor. Brother Jacobsen built a series of cabins in Victor so that boy and girl scouts and other types of programs can camp in nice cabins for free.
Dan had so much fun on this trip. He really has never travelled anywhere so it was cool for him. He loved working with the boys to help them out. He hopes to go again next year and if he does, the two week trip will satisfy half of his 500 required internship hours for graduation.

Urban Studies Zions Camp 2008


Dan's group of boys. He had the 12 year olds- they were the most crazy and energetic group but Dan said they were the funnest to lead.


The group had a spiritual fireside each night to help the boys. Each counselor took a turn giving the lesson about gospel topic that the boys could use.


The boys were kept busy with not only fun activities, but they also did 3 service projects. Here they are cleaning out a horse pasture for a non-member. Dan cut down the trees with the chainsaw and the kids had to pile them over the fence.

Bucking Hay at the Jacobsen Ranch


Pinewood Derby. Dan and the other counselors helped the kids make pinewood derby cars and then they raced them.


They went to the BYU-I ropes course and this is Manuel, one of the boys in Dan's group after jumping off the 35 foot power pole.


The group went to yellowstone and didnt see much until the end when they saw a herd of almost 300 buffalo. This buffalo was right in the middle of the road as Dan's van drove by.

The falls at Yellowstone park


The kids had a chance to drink goat milk right from the source. Some of them decided to do it. These boys were crazy!


Dan and Brad's Mountain man workshop. Each counselor had to teach the boys a skill. Brad taught the boys about mountain men and had them shoot his black powder rifle. Dan taught the boys about Native American culture and then how to throw tomahawks. Dan then had them do a competition and one of the 12 year old boys from his group beat all the other boys including the 17-18 year olds.