Basin teen attends leadership camp

Basin’s Kalli Russell was recently selected to attend Community Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat, Colo. Sponsored by Big Horn REA, she was joined by three other Wyoming residents alongside attendees from Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. 

“At first I was scared because there are so many people there that I have never met, but when I got there everyone was so nice and welcoming,” said Russell, an upcoming junior at Riverside Middle High School. 

As part of the four-day camp, Russell learned about co-ops and how they affect communities. The group toured a coal plant and learned about electricity, went whitewater rafting and performed a talent show. 

“I was on the board and we helped set up all of the activities,” Russell said.” Since we were a part of our own co-op, we made money off our concessions stand. At the end of the camp, we collectively decided to give the money to Light up Navajo, a project in New Mexico where co-ops around the U.S help bring electricity to places in America that don’t have any.”