A Journey with Focus Nature-Friendly Foundation: Köroğlu Mountain Camping and Hiking Adventure

As part of our Focus Nature-Friendly Leaders Program, Focus Nature-Friendly Foundation offers students monthly optional trips, camps, activities, and talks designed to foster a deeper connection with nature. To kick off these exciting events, we set our sights on a mountain adventure to Köroğlu.

We arrived at Göksu Nature Park on Saturday at 12:30 PM, where we set up our first camp. For this experience, our students took full responsibility for exploring the area, setting up tents, and building a campfire, applying the skills they had previously learned.

This time, we prepared our meals together in our mini camp kitchen, where we enjoyed vegan wraps and döner. After dinner, the only task remaining was to enjoy the beauty of nature. We spent a peaceful evening by the lake, taking in a breathtaking sunset, followed by gathering around the campfire to share stories, thoughts, and feelings that strengthened our bonds within the Focus community.

On Sunday morning, we awoke to the chill outside our sleeping bags, ready for the challenge of the summit hike. Despite the rainy and misty weather, our spirits were high. For many, this was their first summit climb, and the unpredictable weather added an extra element of adventure.

Led by experienced team members Mert Temeller and Muhsin Doğan, we learned through practice how to navigate the terrain and prepare for the unexpected. Reaching the summit brought a unique sense of accomplishment to each of us. It wasn’t just a physical journey; it was an inner journey that sparked self-reflection and personal insights.

As we reluctantly packed up and headed back to the city, the impact of even a single day in nature stayed with us. A shared question lingered in everyone’s mind: “When’s the next camp?”