Final Summer Adventure
The rumor going around is that summer is coming to a close… that has not stopped Elevate Youth from an incredible final week of summer programming! For four straight days, EY Staff (and some amazing volunteers) brought a cohort of kids from the BCYF Leahy Holloran Center on back-to-back trips for our Adventure Camp.
Monday morning, 10 students, 3 EY staff, and 2 BCYF staff embarked on a final journey to Outward Bound’s Thompson Island. We loved searching for crabs, building dams, and exploring the tidal area of the island. After eating lunch in the shade and drying our shoes in the sun, half our team revisited the dam and the other half took a nature walk to discover what else the island had in store. Our Thompson Island visit came to a close while we waited for the ferry and learned a new favorite game: Ninja!
On Tuesday, our Youthers were ecstatic to try surfing – no one had been before! With plenty of help from Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Company on Hampton beach, EY staff, BCYF staff, and our incredible volunteers, each young surfer had one-on-one help to get them coasting and standing on their boards. With bellies full of pizza, we enjoyed the hot sand and cold waves before heading back home.
Wednesday brought the BCYF Youthers to Brookwood Community Farm in Canton, Massachusetts! Despite the expected rain, we were greeted with hot sunshine peeking through the clouds. Farm Board Members Cathy and Alix led a hands-on tour, explaining the farm’s history, practices, and importance. Kids helped with farm chores, tasted and smelled herbs, asked lots of questions, and enjoyed lunch under a shady tree.
Our final trip arrived on Thursday, when our Youthers boarded tandem kayaks at Paddle Boston’s Historic Boathouse in Newton. Some were seasonal paddlers and fell into the sport naturally, meanwhile others were learning for the first time. Along a secluded part of the Charles River, we played races, identified plants, and tried new skills on our hour-long trip. Lunch of sandwiches and fruit was thoroughly enjoyed at a nearby picnic table before the final goodbyes.
Elevate Youth is committed to making the outdoors accessible. We do this by taking kids outside, and supplying them with gear, education, and mentors to engage in new activities. We are not one-and-done with our trips, however: we know that consistent engagement sparks lasting impact. We stay committed to our mission through our week-long Adventure Camps. For four days straight, each cohort experiences trips trying new things every day with consistent mentors to connect our Youthers back.
You can learn all about our summer by revisiting our old blog posts or following us on Instagram. If you too want to join EY in taking kids outside to build connections and confidence, you can sign up to volunteer or donate.