We've launched 535 trips since our founding in 2018!

Since our founding in 2018, Elevate Youth has launched 535 trips! These trips have brought together staff, volunteers, and youth from all over Boston. Our trips have ranged from local public parks, to all the way up in New Hampshire. Our trips, just like our programs, are completely free for participants, which gives many underserved youth opportunities to get outdoors and try new activities they would not otherwise have.

In our school programs, we build up to our monthly outings through weekly enrichment sessions during which our instructors teach outdoor skills and environmental education, centered around the upcoming outdoor experience.

Our monthly outings have included horseback riding, surfing, birdwatching, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, kayaking, nature exploration, overnight camping, ice skating, hiking, orienteering, photography trips, indoor & outdoor rock climbing, astronomy, saltwater & freshwater fishing, sailing, snowshoeing, sailing, snorkeling, backcountry yoga, island discovery, farm visits, and maple sugaring. By introducing our young people to a diverse range of outdoor recreational opportunities, each participant is given the chance to find an activity they connect with and can pursue. This means that the support from our donors, partners, and volunteers are opening the door to long-term, life-changing impact for these kids.

Our youth have reported that some of their favorite trips have included horseback riding, surfing, birdwatching, skiing, kayaking, and overnight camping. In 2020, we most frequently ran trips about nature exploration, whereas in 2021 we launched kayaking trips most often. So far in 2022, we have engaged the highest number of youth on our overnight camping trips.

Elevate Youth is looking forward to finishing our year strong with three more outings on the horizon. This week we are running outdoor rock climbing in partnership with Rock Spot Boston for our two school cohorts, the James W. Hennigan and Thomas J. Kenny schools, in addition to a weekend trip for our Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester participants In early December, we’ll visit Camp Wing in Duxbury, Massachusetts for winter exploration and outdoor cooking, and finally we will wrap up 2022 with an end of December trip to the aquarium!

Our trips are made possible by our incredible community: donors that finance our gear, transportation, and staffing; volunteers that act as consistent mentors and facilitators for our youth; and partnerships that support our mission. These connections are vital to us and we are looking forward to empowering our youth through more outdoor trips in the future.

You have the opportunity to make a year-end gift to support Elevate Youth and our future trips. Consider becoming a monthly donor to ensure our youth remain engaged and outdoors year-round.