Dostoevsky

The first and best way to get youth to care about their environment is to get them to experience it, and through experiencing its beauty, they will come to value it and protect it.

At camp, each week students are introduced to LNT (Leave No Trace) ethics. At the end of each week, the participants complete a community service project to "pay it forward", to give back to the community. Projects range from collecting wood for future campfires (keeping in mind the LNT principles), hauling and spreading mulch to protect the rope courses, and collecting trash to make the mountains of Straja a more beautiful place. Kids are introduced to the golden rule -- respect towards other people and the environment – the future golden rule – respect towards future generations -- and to the downstream principle -- the idea that our actions are affecting others downstream from us. The Viata program focuses on empowering youth -- the idea that they can make a difference in their society and for the environment -- as a means of overcoming the civic apathy and thus protecting and improving the environment.