Teamwork Makes the Dream Work! Elevate Youth is Proud of our Partners

Hear that outside? Birds are chirping, the Charles River is flowing, and Spring has finally crept back into our lives in Boston! Winter has been a fun-filled season packed with outdoor activities. As we reflect back on the season and look forward to the next, EY is struck by the quality of our partnerships. 

Since 2017, Elevate Youth has worked with over 20 different partner organizations to help facilitate our outdoor trips. From horseback riding, to sailing, we have found unique ways to recreate outdoors by working with other like-minded organizations. As a small but mighty team, EY would not be able to facilitate nature-filled experiences for youth in Boston’s underserved communities without these exceptional partnerships. 

This winter, EY partnered with the Boston Common Frog Pond, Wachusett Mountain, and Weston Ski Track. We were finally blessed with cold weather in New England which allowed us to run all of these exceptional winter trips. In December, EY went ice skating at Frog Pond. Kids were able to rent all ice skates through Frog Pond and build their confidence on the ice. One Odyssey school participant said, “I learned how to skate without holding the wall today! I wouldn’t change a thing about [Elevate Youth trips] - they are so amazing”. 

Kids continued to challenge themselves by learning how to downhill ski at Wachusett Mountain. As one of our longest partnerships since 2017, Wachusett is able to supply all ski gear rentals for our youth participants and adult volunteers including skis, boots, poles, and helmets. The standout of partnership with Wachusett is the exceptional ski instructing staff, led by Courtney Crowley. Each day, Wachusett instructors came out to teach Elevate Youthers the basics of stopping, turning, and especially how to get up when they fall! Their patience and skiing savvy was essential this winter and led to one participant stating, “even when I fell on the ski hill I still went back up the hill to try again!”. 

We rounded out the winter by gliding along the trails at Weston Ski Area. With a chillier February, EY was able to run all of our planned cross-country ski trips for the first time in three years! Kids learned the gliding motion, cheered each other on when attempting to go downhill, and partnered in small groups to explore the loop trail. Weston instructors were not only patient and kind with the kids, but made each day fun through games, funny stories, and unique challenges. We are so grateful to work with such skilled ski instructors! 

This summer, Elevate Youth is excited to partner again with Piers Park Sailing, Codman Farms, and Guineafowl Adventure Company. Each outdoor outfitting partnership is unique but all share one common goal: building relationships to get kids outdoors at no cost to them or their families. We are blown away by the camaraderie, financial consideration, and outgoing attitudes of our partners. 

EY is always welcoming new organizations to partner with on outdoor adventures. If you or someone you know is interested in working with us, please contact our Executive Director, Chaya Harris (chaya@elevateyouth.org) or our Director of Programming & Operations, Sophie Gould (sophie@elevateyouth.org).