The Legacy Campout is an annual event organized by Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park (MLK Jr. NHP) in collaboration with the Greening Youth Foundation (GYF). This free outdoor camping experience is specifically designed for urban youth in the Metro Atlanta area, offering them an opportunity to connect with nature and learn about America's civil rights movement.
Activities and Benefits:
Camping Experience: Star-lit skies, s’mores by the fire, tents, and sleeping bags provide an authentic outdoor experience. Community Service: Participants engage in activities that promote stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
Educational Component: The event introduces youth to significant historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, highlighting their contributions to the civil rights movement.
Partnership and Commitment:
For the past eight years, MLK Jr. NHP and GYF have partnered to create this unique event. Their joint commitment is to provide diverse youth with innovative outdoor experiences that foster a sense of responsibility and community service. This initiative aligns with Dr. King’s ethos of serving others, as encapsulated in his quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?”
Overall, the Legacy Campout stands as one of the park’s signature events, blending fun, education, and service to inspire and empower the next generation of responsible citizens and leaders.
The Greening Youth Foundation’s (GYF) mission is to engage under-represented youth and young adults while connecting them to the outdoors and careers in conservation. GYF’s cultural-based environmental education programming engages children from local communities and exposes them to healthy lifestyle choices in order to create an overall healthy community.