Hike & Celebrate Summer Break

Written by Rocky Xu Cheng

Publish Date: May 26, 2024

The day started under the blistering 90-degree heat at John Paul Landing Park. Even though the sun hadn't yet reached its peak, it was already shining brightly. Our dedicated volunteers quickly set up the cornhole game and umbrellas to provide much-needed shade.

Everyone brought their favorite dishes, creating a wide variety of food for all to enjoy. As the children with special needs arrived, the volunteers mingled effortlessly with them, having been well-prepared with brochure volunteer guides.

We ate quickly, aiming to start the hike before the hottest part of the day. With the large amount of food we had, however, we still had time to get to know both the volunteers and the special kids better before starting the hike.

During the hike, the John Paul Landing Park trail offered stunning views of the lakeside, complete with birds and numerous peninsulas and islands jutting into the lake. We enjoyed the diverse flora and fauna, especially the yellow wildflowers lining the trail.

However, the intense heat and bright sun soon became challenging. To ensure everyone's comfort and safety, we decided to turn back about a third of the way through the trail. This decision allowed us to conserve energy and avoid any heat-related issues. 

Upon returning to our starting point, we made sure everyone got a good rest and plenty of water. The shade from the umbrellas and the cool drinks provided much-needed relief from the heat. The children and volunteers relaxed, chatting about the highlights of the hike and enjoying each other's company.

A big thanks to the six families with special needs who attended the event. The event could only be successful with your trust.

Special thanks to twenty volunteers: Ana Beatriz Aires, Elena Alsup, Emily Alsup, Amrita Bharath, Angie Campos, Marcus Chan, Esther Chen, Haofei Deng, Fei Feng, Sophia Ha, Maya Hatata, Zoey Hernandez, Alesha Jariwala, Kunsh Kalra, Tristan Lin, Samantha Luo, Maverick Ma, Luisa Magalhaes, Alexandra Tum, Stella Zhao, for volunteering at the event and making the experience for every participant even better.