As summer came to a close, LEAP Students had the opportunity to spend another Wednesday morning volunteering at the Walker County Senior Center! The time we spend with the seniors of Walker County has quickly become one of our favorite volunteer activities this semester. Each visit gives us the chance to spend time together, make new memories, and enjoy the company of the wonderful seniors in our community.
We started the morning with several rounds of bingo, with Olivia and Brittlyn taking turns calling out the numbers. Though the game was intense, there were several winners that were able to take home the best prize of all: bragging rights. In fact, three of the wins ended up going to the same table! Everyone had a great time getting into the spirit of the game and cheering each other on.
One of the biggest surprises of the morning was seeing Grace Eronini, who stopped by after we had not seen her for a few months. As soon as she walked through the door, she was greeted with plenty of smiles and excitement. Grace also brought cupcakes for everyone, making her visit even sweeter—literally! It was wonderful to catch up with her, and it was especially heartwarming to see how much the seniors appreciated both her visit and the thoughtful treat she brought with her.
After bingo, we invited the seniors to help us record a short video celebrating The Wynne Home’s 20th anniversary and thanking them for their continued support of Meals on Wheels. It was a special opportunity to recognize the important role they play in our community and to celebrate such a meaningful milestone together.
Once we finished recording, the morning continued with plenty of conversation and activities. Many of the seniors spent time playing board games, working on puzzles, and visiting with one another, while the LEAP volunteers joined in and enjoyed the activities alongside them. One of the most highly invested in games was a fifty piece miniature puzzle painting of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. The tiny pieces proved a challenge for everyone involved, though it was eventually completed, much to our pride.
After lunch, we ended the morning by enjoying the cupcakes Grace brought for everyone before saying our goodbyes. We left the Senior Center with full stomachs, happy memories, and plenty of smiles, grateful for another wonderful morning spent with the seniors of Walker County.
The Huntsville Fire Department does far more than respond to fires, and a group of City Fellows interns recently had the opportunity to see that firsthand during a behind-the-scenes tour led by Fire Chief Greg Mathis.
The City Fellows program, administered through the LEAP Center at Sam Houston State University, places students in internships throughout the Huntsville community while providing professional development experiences that introduce them to the people and organizations serving the city. This summer’s interns include Brittlyn Jackson, who is interning with Huntsville Main Street; Tania Ramirez, with Huntsville Parks and Leisure; Christine James, with SAAFE House; and Allie Plunk, who serves with Old Town Theatre and The Altom Group.
The tour began with a look into the department’s history, including a beautifully restored 1928 Huntsville fire truck and several artifacts that illustrate how firefighting has evolved over the past century.
From there, Chief Mathis explained that today’s fire chief wears many hats. In addition to emergency response, his responsibilities include budgeting, securing grants, overseeing personnel, and ensuring firefighters have the training and equipment necessary to protect the community.
As the group toured the station, they visited the department’s watch room, where emergency calls and alarms are monitored around the clock, and learned about the important role volunteers continue to play alongside career firefighters. They also had an opportunity to get some hands-on experiences with the equipment, including the firetruck.
We learned that Allie shouldn’t be trusted with sharp objects, and that Brittlyn might not be cut out to be a firefighter.
Chief Mathis emphasized that modern fire departments handle far more than structure fires. The Huntsville Fire Department maintains specialized capabilities such as a dive team and rope rescue team, allowing firefighters to respond to water emergencies, technical rescues, and other situations requiring specialized training. Of course, not every call is dramatic—sometimes firefighters are even called upon to rescue stranded cats.
Perhaps the most memorable portion of the visit came as Chief Mathis recounted some of Huntsville’s most significant fires. He described the devastating 1954 First Baptist Church fire and the 1982 blaze that destroyed Old Main at Sam Houston State University, illustrating how these historic events shaped both the department and the community it serves.
It was a fascinating afternoon, one that provided an education on how various aspects of the city were interconnected, the training that goes into emergency services, and the many roles played by the fire department–all of which enriched our internships and our education.
Many thanks to Chief Greg Mathis for the tour, the time, the history, and the education.
Although the most wonderful time of the year is still six months away, CASA of Walker County brought plenty of holiday spirit to the Lowman Student Center Orange Ballroom during its annual Christmas in July fundraiser.
Organized by Laura Green, the fundraiser united hundreds of community members to support CASA’s mission of providing every child with a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
CASA volunteers took great strides toward this mission this year, travelling more than 44,000 miles and contributing over 3,200 hours–all in the service of children!
This year’s “Christmas in July” event offered similar support. Terrence Bell–SHSU Alum, local Pastor, and Huntsville High teacher–called 15 rounds of Bingo; Victoria White (Assistant Dean of Students) announced raffle winners; and auctioneer Kevin McMillan led an exciting auction intermission. In all, the event raised some $160,000 for CASA (CASA will release its official and final results later this week), providing needed support for its volunteers and staff.
After placing our tickets for the raffle and grabbing delicious Hawaiian inspired food sponsored by Dealer Solutions Automotive, Jolie Godfrey Mortgage Team, Dr. Victoria Hsiao, and Dr. Glenda Read, it was time for the game to begin! Greg Smith, Director of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home and this year’s presenting sponsor, opened the evening with a prayer.
Although LEAP students had much of the ups and downs of the other participants, we were ultimately shut out of this year’s winnings, much to the dismay of some competitive members.
The Woodwards won twice and Stephanie won one of the raffles!
It was also fun to see the many winners throughout the evening, which offers a good reflection of the fun that was had by all.
While bingo provided plenty of excitement, the children’s art auctions were the highlight of the evening. Before each piece was auctioned, volunteers walked around the room, holding the artwork high while a video highlighted aspects of the art (which was often very touching) and the child who created it, and then the bidding began.
It was truly remarkable to see the members of our community getting into bidding wars to support CASA and the children they represent.
Mayor Russell Humphrey was, as always, impactful, spending thousands to buy three pieces, giving two back to the children that made them. Tim Rushing was also a strong supporter of CASA, purchasing multiple art pieces and donating tens of thousands of dollars. The auction did not just touch hearts though; it broke records, raising more than $50,000 in total.
Particularly moving was the presence of some of the adoptive parents on hand, couples who were in the process of adopting CASA children.
Seeing them interact with their children’s CASA advocates and the bidders on their children’s works of art was a highlight of the evening.
Just before the last rounds of bingo, Elliott Herzlich on behalf of Elliott’s Jewelers gave out Hawaiian flower Christmas Ornaments so that everyone could go home with a prize, whether they were lucky enough to win something or or not.
Any time you have good people coming together for a good cause, we see familiar faces. Marshall Altom and his wife, the Woodards, President White and Elliot Herzlich, Jason Brandolini and his wife, Victoria White and Jalon Berry, Lois Stehlik, our old friend Macey Schank (who still volunteers for CASA, despite graduating), and the Slaters.
This added to the already festive aspect of the evening, sending us all home with Christmas spirit–and the children of the region in better hands, the hands of loving families, the committed CASA advocates, and caring community members.
The LEAP Center follows a rigorous process in planning trips, ensuring maximum learning, fun, and reward. The trips are scheduled such that the conferences take priority, while supplementary activities enhance learning, knowledge of others’ cultures, and the expansion of professional networks–with fun sprinkled in.
When things go well, the students take ownership of this process, and this was one of the many happy outcomes of this trip. After a year-long moratorium on LEAP travel, the students prepared well for the trip (taking a photography course and watching a documentary on one of the conference’s keynote speakers), maintained a good attitude despite long days and little sleep, and stayed up-to-date with the blogs and photo editing.
In light of the above and with a little reflection, they offered their favorites of the trip:
Conference Sessions:
This had the least consensus, probably because there was much to like and the students attended different sessions.
Probably the favorite was the “policy tour,” in which the students had a chance to deep-dive into a policy area–including a tour–led by experts. For Isis, Allie, and Jacob, this was the crisis center, in which the students learned of techniques to allow social workers to take over many of the processes involving low-level criminal conduct by people struggling with mental illness. For Robin and Olivia, the tour explored water issues in the West and one of the things Utah is doing to combat shortages, while also involving a wetlands tour on an airboat.
The students also enjoyed “Getting the Right Response,” which also involved crisis response by mental health and law-enforcement personnel. They also enjoyed meeting the keynote speakers, particularly Elizabeth Smart and Evy Poumpouras.
Restaurants:
Central by Saffron Valley was on all five students’ “best-of” lists, and it was the top choice for four of the students.
The food was, in every way, excellent, and amid all the appetizers and entrees, there was not a bad (or even so-so) choice.
Caputo’s was a strong second. appearing on four of the students’ choices. Their sandwiches were impressive–all tasty–and their shop selection was excellent. We wish we could have stayed longer and tried their food classes. Rounding out the top three was Plates and Palates, which had great service and sandwiches in Bountiful, UT.
Coffee:
For coffee, “Ten” ranked first. We had two visits there, and both times, the staff were pleasant, responsive, and helpful, and their coffee was excellent. Also top-notch was the Honeysuckle Coffee Co, which has great service, coffee, and pastries. King’s Peak was perhaps a distant third, while still recommendable. Their coffee is good, while their pastries and service are not up to “Ten’s” standards. On a trip of this nature, coffee shops are much sampled, and we went to the above shops on two occasions. In addition, we went to “The People’s Coffee,” which was adequate, and we also visited “Roots” and “Publik”, although we declined to try their coffee when the baristas indicated that it wasn’t fresh–and didn’t offer to make a fresh cup.
Non-Conference Activities
Beyond the conference, there was even less consensus on the most rewarding activities. Some thought Park City was the most interesting…
…the Capitol Tour had a lot of support, with a majority of the students believing that Utah’s Capitol was, overall, more polished, cohesive, and interesting than the Texas Capitol.
The students also enjoyed the trip through the Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway, where the temperatures were twenty-five degrees cooler than Salt Lake City, the scenery was beautiful, and there was an adventure around every corner.
Advisor’s Wrapup
This was the first trip where the students managed to organize their time and energy in such a way as to finish their blogs on time, edit all their photos, and post on social media daily. Olivia McCaughan did a great job facilitating the many tasks that go into making the trip work; Allie did a great job editing the blogs; Jacob and Allie took the lead on editing photos, but everyone edited some photos; and Robin and Isis proved versatile, editing photos, writing blogs, compiling lists, asking questions.
The result was a broad-based learning trip, with leadership lessons built in. The students explored other cities’ downtowns, city halls, and libraries; met numerous legislators and policy experts, promoting their leadership and potentially helping to prepare them for the Austin Internship Program; toured two Museums and one educational center; heard the Tabernacle Choir, one of the ten best choirs in the world; sat in on numerous policy sessions; took thousands of photos; saw numerous animal species for the first time; and managed to complete a 2.5 mile round-trip hike–with a 1,000 foot elevation gain–all in six days!
The students’ teamwork was impressive and effective, with student leadership helping to maintain morale, ensure logistical efficiency, and meet all deadlines, which, in turn, helped make this an excellent trip!
Written By: Isis Hollis, Robin Houghton, and Allie Plunk
Throughout the conference, LEAP Ambassadors have had the opportunity to learn about policy from esteemed legislators and guest speakers, but on our last day, we got to experience a much more personal session, hearing from activist Elizabeth Smart, the CSG Justice Center on mental health, and attending the closing dinner.
Elizabeth Smart
Before we heard from today’s remarkable keynote speaker, there were a few mentions and introductions from Chair Senator Todd Weiler (UT) and Chair-Prospect Senator Löki Tobin (AK). Together, they previewed next year’s CSG West meeting, which will be taking place in Alaska! Following a short “sizzle reel” for the state, Chair Senator Todd Weiler (UT) introduced Elizabeth Smart.
Smart was abducted from her bedroom at the age of 14 and survived nine months in captivity before being rescued. Though it was law enforcement that put her captors behind bars, there would be no story to tell had it not been for her resilience. It was incredibly inspiring to hear her story, and how she pushed through the darkness around her by focusing on positivity. Even though terrible things were happening to her, she reminded herself constantly throughout her abduction that things could always be worse. It was this strategy, as well as remembering the unconditional love of her family, that kept her going.
Smart also touched on the incredible difficulty she had finding value within herself during and following her captivity. Because she hadn’t been taught the difference between consensual sex and rape, she felt like she had done something horrible. It took her a long time to be able to rationalize that she hadn’t been the one to do anything wrong. I appreciated her candor and that she made it clear that recovery after something so terrifying was a long process.
Now an advocate for safety and sexual assault victims, Smart has used what happened to her for as much good as she can. This resilience and compassion is something we all admired. She was an incredible speaker, and we felt honored to have been able to listen to her.
CSG Justice Center
Following Elizabeth Smart’s moving speech, we attended a session on the CSG Justice Center, and their approach to mental health advocacy. Ernest Stevens, former San Antonio police officer and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) member, current Managing Director of Behavioral Health at the CSG Justice Center, Madeleine Dardeau, CSG Justice Center State Initiatives Program Director, and Leanne Huff, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) Act specialist, had a panel discussion about the implementation and development of MCOTs, as well as CIT Trainings and help line 988.
The key point was the pressing need for more CIT trained teams to go out and address people with mental health problems. Stevens stated that if you send an untrained officer to deal with mental health crises “there will always be a gun.” Many people struggling with mental health have been shot or killed by officers unable to deal with their problems, and this is exactly what the CSG Criminal Justice center is trying to stop. At the core of this session was a statistic: officers spend only 8 hours learning about mediation techniques, which is something they are supposed to use every day, as opposed to a whopping 20 hours learning to use a gun, which many officers only discharge a few times.
Another factor in this issue is the stigmatization of mental health problems. If we can make people unafraid to get the help they need, then we won’t have as many suicides or overdoses. This issue is becoming something that is particularly close to a few of our hearts, and we hope that in the future we can be a part of the solution.
Dinner
We ended the conference with fun in a closing dinner hosted at the Natural History Museum of Utah, which was just as beautiful of a venue as it was informative. After ascending the stairs, we were greeted with a wall of fossils, crystals, flora, and taxidermy that stretched from floor to ceiling, immediately captivating several Ambassadors.
The dinner also featured a local band, by the name of The Bombshell Flowers. A high-energy indie rock group, their layered harmonies added a relaxed, yet tasteful atmosphere.
For dinner, we had tri-tip steak, cauliflower, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and salad, followed by desserts of fruit tarts and banana pudding.
While the dinner was good, it was the museum that was truly memorable. We spent a lot of time exploring the exhibits, each highlighting an important aspect of Utah’s natural history. We even discovered that Allie is likely descended from the Allosaurus, which is where she gets her t-rex nature!
As we left, we managed to grab a shot of the breathtaking views from the museum terrace.
From dinosaurs to rock formations to earthquakes, Utah’s Natural History Museum was a wonderful place to close out the conference.
Conclusion
Our final conference day left us with a lot to think about, looking at the world through new eyes. We all admired the incredible work people like Elizabeth Smart and the CSG Criminal Justice Center are doing for those struggling with mental health and sexual assault.
LEAP has had a wonderful time exploring the many sights of Utah and learning numerous facts about Salt Lake City, but the fun hasn’t stopped there. Today was our first official day attending the Council of State Governments Western Legislative Conference. Throughout the day, we attended many interesting speaker sessions, including diverse topics such as Rural Healthcare Transformation Planning, AI in Education, Identifying Human Behavior, the Housing Crisis, Building the Grid of Tomorrow, and Geothermal Energy.
Conference Sessions
Though we had the opportunity to attend several sessions, we did have a few favorites!
One such session was the Rural Healthcare Transformation Planning presentation featuring Ben Eikey, Manager of State Training and Development for the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, with Representative My-Linh Thai (WA) and Representative Matt Soper (CO) moderating. Over the past 20 years, rural hospitals have faced financial crises, and Eikey offered a template to concerned citizens and legislators for how to encourage serious discussion of the issue.
He encouraged a four-step process: (1) becoming as knowledgeable as possible about the issue, in this case, rural healthcare, (2) creating a list of open questions, (3) using the answers to those questions to find evidence, and finally (4) identifying resources, advocates, and committees that are necessary to stimulate a solution for the lack of funding.
This outline provided a guide to what goes into the creation of legislation. As future lawyers- and potential legislators- we all found this very intriguing.
While Jacob, Isis, and I were learning about rural healthcare, Robin and Allie were attending a session on AI in the classroom. With moderation by Carrie Butler of SchoolAI…
…Representative John Arthur (UT), Senator Kirk Cullimore (UT), and Caleb Hicks, CEO of SchoolAI, discussed the impact of a recently passed Utah Bill that will require school boards to create and implement a “best use guide” for software– including AI.
We were surprised to learn that 20 percent of high-school students have had a romantic relationship with AI, and that 80 percent of high-school students use “Shadow AI” (as far as we can tell, this means unapproved AI platforms). With these facts in mind, the panelists were in agreement that: AI had to be incorporated into curriculum, schools and teachers had to teach students how to use this software effectively, honestly, and transparently, and the school systems had to ensure that the software they approved is safe and good for children.
Lunch
For lunch, we all came together to converse, learn more about the CSG, and to hear the keynote speaker of the day, former NYPD Officer, former Secret Service Agent, and author Evy Poumpouras.
The lunch highlighted the work done by many of the leaders of the Council of State Governments (West), including Chair Senator Todd Weiler (UT), Vice-Chair Rep. Lauren Matsumoto (HA), Chair-Elect Senator Loki Tobin (HA), and Past-Chair Rep. Mike Yin (WY), as well as Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks. These discussions culminated in some groan-worthy “dad jokes” by Senator Weiler, as well as an award presented to him by Executive Director of State Government Affairs Council, Beth Loudy.
The highlight of the lunch was keynote speaker Evy Poumpouras. Drawing from her experience in law enforcement, her knowledge of six languages, and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, Poumpouras spoke on the importance of understanding how to converse with others by responding to their headspace. Using techniques taught to her in training, she discussed the different kinds of behavior that a person can exhibit: the warm, social Monkey, the leading Lion, the patient Mouse, or the frank T-Rex.
Each of these “behavioral types” can be exhibited by someone, depending on the situation, and each should be responded to in a different way. While the Lion and the Mouse complement each other, a Monkey responds best to a Monkey, and a T-Rex to a T-Rex. Central to Poumpouras’s argument is that (1) these behavioral characteristics are not permanent, (2) the members of the audience have agency, and they can adopt behaviors that advance their goals, and that (3) good faith behavior fosters trust. Accordingly, the key takeaway was that we should learn to regulate our own reactions to make conversations and meetings more productive. While we may not be using these tools to interrogate terrorists, we are very curious to see how implementing this style affects our communication!
The Red Iguana
Continuing our theme of exploring ethnic food in Salt Lake City, we tried out what our hotel described as the “Best Mexican Food in Salt Lake City,” The Red Iguana. Established in 1985 by Ramon and Maria Cardenas, the restaurant now has three locations in the city, and is a fixture among locals. As noted by Eater, “The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so arrive early to ensure you snag a table or be prepared to wait.”
With us having a “working dinner,” we avoided the wait by getting the food “to go” and eating at the hotel. Olivia and Allie got the “Killer Nachos,” and we learned that the “killer’ may have referred to the size of the nachos—the portions for which were as large as they were scrumptious. Similarly the quesadilla—which resembled a burrito more than the Tex-Mex quesadilla—had more fillings than were expected and beef that was particularly flavorful. Robin and Jacob had the steak a la ranchero, which, received a strong thumbs up from Jacob and a “so-so” from Robin. The sides were a major plus, with the queso and the chile poblano con queso being standouts.
There are many who are suspicious of Mexican food outside of Mexico or Texas, but this is nonsense. Chefs can be developed anywhere, and chefs can emigrate to any city as our experiences in Salt Lake City have attested—with excellent results.
Conclusion
We had a very educational and insightful first conference day, learning about a vast array of topics that have already begun to spark debates and conversations among the Ambassadors. We are all looking forward to the sessions that tomorrow holds and are sure that they will be just as engaging and exciting as today’s!
Written By: Robin Houghton, Olivia McCaughan, Allie Plunk, and Jacob Wessels
On our second day in Salt Lake City, LEAP Ambassadors enjoyed a fun-filled day of learning and exploration, from seeing sights from the Salt Lake City Library, to visiting Park City, to taking a scenic tour of Utah’s more natural features.
SLC Library
LEAP Ambassadors started the day by exploring the Salt Lake City Library. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie (who also designed Crystal Bridges Art Museum), the library is as much a work of art as a center for community.
The building is uniquely shaped into a triangle with a curved base. This specific shape was chosen to let in the most light through the predominantly glass structure, helping naturally keep the library cool in the summer and warm in the winter according to the differing curves of the sun’s path. Mirroring this curve is an outer wall, inlaid with spaces that businesses can rent out, and a curved amphitheater within the courtyard.
My favorite floor was probably the first floor. Walking into the library, we were greeted by a piece called Psyche, created by Ralph Helmick and Stu Schecter. It is made up entirely of small hanging books and butterflies, strung in the shape of a head, a play on the Greek word for both mind and butterfly.
Elsewhere in the Library, I was fascinated by the massive volume of CDs, especially those of local artists featured in the audio section, a good example of the library exposing people to new cultural horizons while also supporting the local community. Speaking of which, there was also a place to buy stickers designed by local artists and a seed check-out kiosk where locals could take seeds to plant in their home garden. The concept is that, after the harvest, “borrowers” would return some seeds from the plants they grew. I also admired (and was jealous of!) the incredible resources the creative lounge had to offer, including leathercraft, sewing machines, audio recording, and even a soldering station!
The roof, featuring 360-degree views of Salt Lake City, was a close second place in my ranking. We were able to see both the mountains and the top of city hall from the same spot.
As we left, we were all able to come to the same conclusion: the Salt Lake City Library has all the functions of a proper community center, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Caputo’s Market & Deli
Following our library adventure, we stopped for lunch at Caputo’s Market & Deli for authentic Italian cuisine and specialty foods. Founded in 1997 by Tony Caputo, the deli has become a local institution by bringing high-quality imported European products and traditional Italian flavors to Utah.
We were able to enjoy a variety of dishes. The Caputo, Roasted Reds, Mortadella Mami, and Hot Pastrami each highlighted the quality ingredients and classic combinations that have been staples of Italian delis for generations.
Many of us couldn’t resist browsing Caputo’s famous chocolate selection. We shared and sampled an assortment of chocolates, including one decorated with edible flowers that was as beautiful as it was delicious. We also enjoyed several unique flavors, including Vietnamese Coffee, Orange with Sea Salt, Cardamom, and Chili Chocolate. Personally, my favorite was the Vietnamese Coffee. It captured the bold flavor of coffee without overpowering the chocolate.
By preserving the culinary traditions of Europe while also introducing them to new audiences, Caputo’s has become an important part of Salt Lake City’s diverse food culture. The experience reminded us that food has the power to connect people with history, culture, and one another.
Park City
Our next stop was Park City, Utah‘s Main Street, an idyllic strip of shops, restaurants and cafes. It was discovered in 1868 when soldiers stationed in Salt Lake City traveled from Big Cottonwood Canyon to find silver. After silver mining slowed and miners began to move on to other lands in search of more minerals, the town became a leading state in winter sports, which led to the creation of Park City’s Historic Main Street. The street is now home to over 200 unique businesses, including 50 one-of-a-kind restaurants.
As the Huntsville Main Street Coordinator, it was very interesting to see how Park City’s Main Street compared to our own. During my walk through town, many things caught my eye: the vibrant landscapes, the numerous souvenir shops, and the distinctive Main Street Trolley. Combining all of these elements created the perfect environment for a wonderful day of shopping and visiting with friends and family.
After visiting this thriving Main Street, I have been inspired to bring many of these aspects back to Huntsville. This Main Street is definitely one for others to look to for guidance on their next project for bringing the community together.
Scenic Byway
After exploring Park City’s Main Street, we spent the afternoon taking a scenic drive through the Wasatch Mountains. In contrast to the previous night’s rigorous hike, this drive was much less exerting, allowing us to take plenty of photos of the beautiful flora and fauna of Utah.
We began near the top of the Wasatch Mountains, where the cooler weather allowed us to see a vibrant array of wildflowers, which complemented the surrounding mountains. We stopped to take in the quaking aspens (which we were surprised to learn all share the same root system), and to enjoy even more beautiful views!
Further down the mountain, in Big Cottonwood Canyon, we saw Silver Lake, which features a short trail ideal for spotting a diverse array of animals. Almost immediately, we spotted a few squirrels and chipmunks around the visitor center, making them perfect practice for photos.
Things got more exciting as we walked down the boardwalk, almost immediately spotting an osprey diving for prey on the lake. We also observed some less predatory birds, such as sparrows and ducks. We even got to see a beaver swimming around the lake!
As we moved onto the surrounding trail, we spotted a few robins in the underbrush. About halfway around the lake, we saw a grazing deer and managed to snag a tricky photo of a dragonfly. The greatest sight, however, was near the end of the trail, where we managed to catch glimpses of a moose!
After taking a multitude of photos- and filling up a camera memory card- we made our way back to the hotel, happy with the day’s pursuits.
Pretty Bird Chicken
Once we were back, we ordered dinner from Pretty Bird, the self-professed best chicken place in Salt Lake City! Owner Viet Pham is a world-renowned chef, who retired from fine dining to set up Pretty Bird and explore his version of the Nashville spicy fried chicken. We enjoyed the flavors and spices of the chicken, but the fries and the street corn weren’t our favorite dishes. Still, it was an interesting addition to our Salt Lake City culinary experience.
Conclusion
Our second day in Salt Lake City was well-spent, filled with learning, exploring, and some lessons to take with us, back to Huntsville, our home towns, and in life. As the day concluded, most of us agreed that Salt Lake City, Utah was one of our new favorite places!
Before heading out to tackle the local trails, LEAP Ambassadors set out to experience Salt Lake City’s vibrant food scene, fuel up, and to continue our theme of ethnic food destinations in Salt Lake City. Nestled in the 15th and 15th neighborhood, we ate at Mazza, a James Beard Award-nominated Lebanese restaurant.
While the service was a bit spotty, the menu showcased the depth of Lebanese cuisine, striking a balance between familiar favorites and complex specialty dishes. We began with their classic, smooth hummus paired with a distinctively airy, fluffy pita bread and meatballs before exploring their rich entrees. The meatballs especially stood out as an experience in spice blending. Served in a deeply flavorful, rich tomato sauce packed with traditional spices, these meatballs were definitely one of the highlights of the night.
For entrees we went for a wide variety of dishes, including the savory lamb and spinach yakhneh, shawarma, beef and lamb kabobs, and a uniquely balanced chicken dish prepared with olives and dried fruit, the latter of which was the standout among the menu items we sampled.
Fueled by our meal and hoping to beat sunset, we were ready to set off on our hike! When we first set out on the Living Room Trail in Salt Lake City, our main goal was to catch the sunset from the famous rock couches at the top. However, as our very first LEAP hike, the trail turned out to be a lot steeper and harder than we anticipated ((editor’s note: despite repeated discussions about this very topic). The constant incline tested our stamina, and while we pushed through and made it all the way to the summit, we unfortunately missed the sunset. Despite the timing mishap, the journey up was incredibly beautiful and rewarding; we even got to see some local wildlife along the way, including a doe and buck grazing against the backdrop of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Swapping out the familiar, humid Texas forests for the massive, rugged peaks of the Wasatch Range gave us a newfound appreciation for how diverse American geography can be. Climbing up the rocky, high-altitude terrain of Salt Lake City felt worlds away from our usual campus walks, making the physical challenge even more memorable for us, and allowing us to push ourselves outside our comfort zones to experience a completely different side of the country.
By the time we reached the top, the dusk had faded, giving us a stunning view of the city lights. This was definitely the most rewarding part of the night; we felt like we had accomplished something together. The descent proved to be its own adventure, as navigating the very steep trail in the pitch dark felt a bit scary and required us to look out for one another every step of the way. Facing the tough terrain and conquering the dark together created a memory and a shared connection that none of us will ever forget.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 