Exploring the Charles River Greenway with THE GOLDEN ROAD!

The meetup we’ve all been waiting for! On Tuesday, Elevate Youthers from the Hennigan School had the opportunity to walk along the Charles River Greenway with Matt and Grace Grooms. This couple, also known as The Golden Road, are walking along the 3,000 mile East Coast Greenway as they make their way from Maine to Florida. Joined by their two adorable and spunky dogs, Nemo and Foxy, and their trusty jogging stroller, Timmy, this crew strives to inspire people to get outside, explore, and find love in the little things. On top of that, they raise money for nonprofits through these adventures. You guessed it— Elevate Youth is lucky enough to receive the funds that The Golden Road raises during this adventure from Maine to Florida! Thanks to the support and funds raised through their journey, we hope to create even more outdoor opportunities for kids facing barriers to outdoor exploration. 

Safe to say, Matt and Grace are a pretty inspiring crew. After navigating through Maine, along the coast of New Hampshire, and overcoming a brief stomach bug, they arrived at the Charles River Greenway. Here they were met with a resupply box (new shoes!) and snacks and hugs from some of their supporters. It was incredible to see the network of supporters, both virtual and in person, who have rallied around this inspiring couple, what they stand for, and Elevate Youth. 

Before long, Matt and Grace were greeting all the students with a fist bump while Nemo and Foxy greeted them with intense tail-wagging. Foxy was even met with a “Can I have him?” from one of the students! We did a quick round of introductions, and then were off to the races! Everyone grabbed a Scavenger Hunt, challenging us to take in our surroundings and identify the diverse natural objects along the Greenway— from something fuzzy to a purple flower to a pinecone. All of the students even had the opportunity to walk Foxy and Nemo, and to figure out what to do when a dog you’re walking chases a rabbit! 

We walked past ducks, geese, crew teams practicing in the Charles River, mystery fuzz on the ground (which we identified as perhaps coming from a cattail), and countless people enjoying the sunshine along the Greenway. The views of the river and green spaces prompted comments such as “Ooh this is so beautiful!” or “I’m going to come here with my parents!” It was a great reminder that getting outside doesn’t have to entail lengthy trips to the Adirondacks to reap the benefits of nature: building relationships, reducing stress levels, connecting with mentors, and more. Rather, it can happen right in our own backyard, in the green spaces within city limits.

After walking with The Golden Road for about 45 minutes, we said our goodbyes and watched the crew continue along the Greenway towards their final destination. As Grace highlighted during their special on WHDH, “we all need that connection” that's fostered when walking outside and sharing a smile, wave, conversation, or experience with another human. In a post-pandemic world, this is more important than ever. It was special to witness this connection taking place during our walk with the Elevate Youthers and The Golden Road— working together to tackle the scavenger hunt, figuring out how to walk the dogs safely, exchanging fist bumps, learning more about the ecosystems around them, and sharing many smiles and laughs. 

We wish Matt and Grace all the best as they continue their inspiring journey down the coast. We are endlessly grateful to them for brightening individual’s days, inspiring so many to get outside, and helping Elevate Youth strive to break down barriers preventing this outside exploration. 

You can follow their journey on their website or by checking their Instagram and TikTok @the ggoldenroad.