Boys and girls treated to a day on the lake
A group of children from the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau journeyed into Lake Glenville this week to embark on an educational cruise that combined fun with environmental learning.
The trip was organized by Friends of Lake Glenville and Lake Glenville’s Waterfall Cruises, which aimed to provide memorable experiences for the youth. During the cruise, children were treated to stunning views of the waterfalls and given the opportunity to learn about the lake’s unique features.
“It’s about Friends of Lake Glenville partnering with the Scenic Waterfall Tours company just to give the kids a day out and get them out on the lake learning about it and the environment and just overall having a good time,” said Chris Warren, president of Friends of Lake Glenville.
The event came from a desire to provide more than financial support to area youth organizations, with Warren noting he wanted to provide a hands-on experience that would foster among young people a deeper understanding of the environment.
“We did this about three or four years ago and we look for stuff like this to do, particularly with the Boys and Girls Club because we love that,” Warren said. “It’s about education and about educating people.”
In turn, this approach further reflects Friends of Lake Glenville’s mission of promoting education about water quality and environmental stewardship. Looking ahead, Warren expressed interest in continuing to collaborate with youth organizations, remaining committed to exploring more opportunities.
“We particularly like to do that with younger people, to plant the seed that we need to carry on traditions of water quality and being good stewards of the lake and the environment,” he said. “We’re going to continue to entertain that through the years.”
Capt. Mark Wise, known for his extensive knowledge on local wildlife, guided the kids through the area, highlighting the lake and discussing the waterfowl, which included eagles, geese and ducks.
“We went for a cruise and we saw on Lake Glenville, the highest lake in the eastern United States, and we saw three waterfalls. We saw an eagle’s nest and we saw a bald eagle chick,” Wise said. “We learned about the behaviors and life cycle of the eagle, and then we went to the island and the kids got out and played on the beach for a while.”
Wise noted that children often prefer engaging in experiences over formal education, with the day being designed to be recreational, allowing the kids to appreciate the beauty of nature while having fun.
“It was perfect weather. On a normal cruise, I do extensive lecturing. But when it’s just a group of kids, they want to ride and have fun and enjoy the beautiful day,” Wise said.
Wise said he hoped the kids gain a greater appreciation of nature and see the fun that it can often provide.
“Lake Glenville is awesome and it’s just great to be out on the water. I hope they see it’s great to be outdoors and that it’s OK to be away from your technology for a while,” he said.
- Kevin McCall
reporter@highlandsnews.com