Felicia Brower
When teens head out into the backcountry on a Colorado Mountain Club adventure, they often return with stronger legs, new friendships, and endless stories from the trail. For backpacking trip attendee Luci Monson, her time under the stars sparked something even bigger: a community-wide climate action movement.
Luci, a resident of Golden heading to Lakewood High School’s International Baccalaureate program (a highly academic, rigorous course of study that focuses on conceptual learning, critical thinking, and presentation skills) this fall, has always felt at home in the outdoors. "I love the outdoors, and recently that has turned into loving protecting the outdoors," Luci explains. "I also love teaching other people and being a leader as well."
After attending a youth trip with Colorado Mountain Club, Luci felt a monumental shift. "The CMC Teen Girls Overnight Backpacking Trip was the turning point of my obsession with nature," says Luci. "The Backpacking Trip showed me how to be present in nature but also how to respect it. I loved being able to meet new people in my favorite place ever. I knew that I wanted other teens to experience the same thing that I did with CMC, so I created the Climate Club!"
Luci believes that cultivating a passion for the outdoors is the essential first step toward environmental advocacy. "I wish more teens knew that spending time outdoors can actually be quite amazing, if you give it a chance," says Luci. "Often times people take nature for granted but if you actually give it a chance you will realize that nature is the best part about our Earth!"
That ethos is at the heart of the Climate Club. Designed for all teens regardless of their outdoor experience, the club gives young people a platform to deepen their bond with nature while tackling climate change head-on. Luci emphasizes that making a meaningful impact doesn't require grand, overwhelming gestures. Instead, the club focuses on individual actions, operating on the principle that if everyone contributes a small effort, the collective difference will be massive.
"Teens are the next generation, and it is up to us to keep the world healthy," remarks Luci. "That all starts with a personal connection to nature! So go outside and do your best to be present." If you're interested in joining Luci's Climate Club, you can sign up here.
At Colorado Mountain Club, we are endlessly inspired by young leaders like Luci, who take their experiences on our trips and turn them into meaningful action for our communities and public lands. For more information about CMC youth camps and programs, visit our website.