Team FUEL Camp Out: A 24-Hour Leadership Experience for Young Men in Marin County

Twenty-two young men stepped away from screens for a 24-hour leadership campout in Marin County focused on teamwork, responsibility, outdoor challenges, and connection with mentors from FUEL Community Project.

4/3/20265 min read

Team FUEL Camp Out: 24 Hours Without Screens, With Each Other

Last weekend, 22 young men, 4 fathers, and 8 volunteer leaders gathered in Nicasio Valley for a 24-hour Team FUEL Camp Out leadership experience hosted by FUEL Community Project.

No phones.
No distractions.
Just nature, responsibility, challenge, and connection.

For one full day, these young men stepped away from screens and into something increasingly rare: real presence with themselves and each other.

And they did it together.

Why We Hosted the Team FUEL Camp Out

At FUEL Community Project, our work is rooted in four principles:

Fun • Unity • Excellence • Legacy

This campout was designed as a youth leadership experience, not just a camping trip.

We created opportunities for young men to:

take initiative
work as a team
support one another
step outside their comfort zones
experience time outdoors without devices
reflect on how they show up at school, at home, and in their communities

Most importantly, we wanted them to experience what it feels like to belong to something bigger than themselves.

Experiences like this help young men develop confidence, responsibility, and connection in ways that can’t happen through screens.

A 24-Hour Digital Detox for Young Men

Every participant completed a full 24-hour digital detox.

No scrolling.
No texting.
No checking notifications.

Just conversation, movement, responsibility, laughter, and shared experience outdoors.

In a world where constant connectivity is the norm, this alone was a meaningful accomplishment.

Several parents later shared how valuable this reset from technology was for their sons.

Programs like this give young men the rare opportunity to experience what it feels like to be fully present with peers and mentors in nature.

Leadership in Action Outdoors

Throughout the campout, the young men participated in:

team challenges
outdoor leadership activities
group discussions
camp setup and shared responsibilities
a guided night hike
reflection circles
meal preparation support
a sunrise circle focused on morning routines, daily discipline, and mental and physical well-being

The young men also had opportunities to step into leadership roles within their teams during physical activities and group challenges, help figure out and lead construction of items and structures needed for the campout, and take responsibility for guiding kitchen teams as meals were prepared for the group.

Just as importantly, they practiced something that is often overlooked but essential to real leadership: learning how to support one another and help a leader succeed so the entire group can accomplish a shared goal.

Leadership wasn’t something we talked about abstractly.

It was something they practiced together.

Leadership looked like:

helping carry gear
supporting a teammate
trying again after frustration
listening to instructions
helping organize group tasks
showing up for the team
stepping forward when the group needed them

And again and again — they stepped up.

Opening Our Home to the Community

This campout took place at our family property in Nicasio Valley, which opens directly into more than 1,000 acres of protected Marin County open space, including Roy’s Redwoods Preserve, French Ranch Preserve, the restored San Geronimo Valley habitat corridor, and surrounding ridge lands connected to the Lagunitas Creek watershed.

It’s a special place.

Over the years, our family has shared this land with only a small number of people, so opening it to a large group of young men for this experience was meaningful and required trust from everyone involved.

We are grateful to the families who trusted us and to the young men who showed up ready to participate in something new.

What We Saw During the Campout

Like any real leadership experience, the weekend included challenges.

And that’s exactly the point.

Growth doesn’t happen when everything goes perfectly. It happens when young men:

face discomfort
work through group dynamics
try something unfamiliar
and discover what they’re capable of

This campout was larger than we originally expected, which meant everyone — young men and leaders alike — had opportunities to adapt, stay flexible, and continue supporting one another as the experience unfolded.

Even in moments that were difficult, the group continued participating and working together.

Just as importantly, the weekend gave young men an opportunity to begin noticing how they show up as leaders — not only during the campout, but in their daily lives at school, at home, and in their communities.

Experiences like this often plant a seed. If they continue paying attention, many young men begin to recognize the impact their choices, attitudes, and actions have on the people around them.

Leadership develops when people stay engaged even when conditions are uncertain, messy, or challenging.

And that’s exactly what we saw.

The Role of Mentors in Youth Leadership Experiences

None of this work happens without mentors.

The fathers and volunteer leaders who supported the campout brought years of experience working with young men through programs including the Young Men’s Ultimate Weekend (YMUW) and other community leadership initiatives.

Because the group was larger than expected, the weekend naturally created moments where leaders had to adapt in real time.

That created an opportunity — not a setback.

One of the most important things young men can experience is watching adults respond to challenges with patience, flexibility, teamwork, and accountability.

Leadership is not about being perfect.

There were moments when the work stretched all of us. Like any group responsible for supporting a large number of young men in an outdoor setting, there were times we regrouped, adjusted plans, and supported each other as leaders along the way.

At FUEL Community Project, we believe leadership also includes learning how to support others, contribute to shared goals, and help the group succeed — not just stepping forward to take charge, but knowing when to follow well and strengthen the team.

Modeling accountability, staying steady when plans shift, and continuing to show up with intention are some of the most important lessons we can pass on.

Young men learn leadership by seeing it lived — not just talked about.

And this weekend, they saw it.