High Adventure Treks for Dads and Daughters (HATS) hosted its ninth grade campout for 30 dads and daughters at the Wichita Wildlife Refuge in Lawton, Oklahoma. Dads and daughters spent a weekend hiking through the Wildlife Refuge and braving the 23 degree weather and 20 mph winds.
Alan and Nola Allinger of Dallas were among the thirty participants. "I think it was a tribute to the HATS program that the girls have learned how to get along in adverse conditions and even have
fun and enjoy themselves while doing difficult work in a hostile environment" Alan said. "I felt so much pride in Nola and in all the participants at the campout."
HATS is a non-profit organization which uses outdoor activities as an instrument to bring dads and daughters together. "I learned that my dad is always there for me," recalled Emily Lewis from Hillcrest High School, "even when times are good and bad."
The ninth grade campout is a bushwhacking campout, devoted to the dads taking a step back and letting their daughters lead the way, even if there is no trail to follow.  Explained Megan Thompson from Lake Highlands High School, "I liked the concept of the hike, that there is not always a set path to follow," Megan said. "Sometimes you have to make decisions which aren’t easy."
With all HATS campouts, Sunday morning is spent in break out sessions where girls and their fathers share specially designed games and questions to strengthen bonds of communication.
"It was a great bonding experience," said Alan, "the Sunday breakout exercise was especially timely in our case."
HATS is open to dads and daughters in fourth through ninth grades. More information is available by calling 214-348-7800 or visiting the website at www.highadventuretreks.org.