Carne Asada Night at Lake Storey

On the lovely Friday evening of May 8th, the Knox Outdoor Adventure Club and National Park Trust College Ambassadors teamed up with Lo Nuestro, our Latinx student organization on campus, for a fun-filled Carne Asada night at our local park!

We convened at Lake Storey Park in Galesburg, IL, at a picnic shelter near a playground. While our brave chefs & sous chefs started the grill & stocked it with wood, the rest of the members frolicked around the park. Kites were flown, frisbees were caught, and memories were made as the sun slowly slipped below the tree line. Soon, the delectable steaks, hot dogs, tortillas, and more were ready, and we all dug in! There is something special about eating a fresh-cooked meal over the fire on a perfect spring night surrounded by friends who feel like family. As people ate in shifts, the second course was prepped: camp-stove elotes! These were the perfect cherry on top of a veritable feast of food! 

The final activity of the night involved a giant cactus-shaped piñata, which we hung from a nearby burr oak tree. We took turns swinging at it as it grinned down at us, until finally it burst and the candy was released from within. It was such a fun merging of groups, culture, and tradition in outdoor spaces. We left the park as the last rays of sun illuminated the picnic area, bellies and hearts full.