Climbing Mentorship for At Risk Youth

Anyone know any good mentorship programs that provide life skills and climbing instruction to troubled youth?

I've read about these types of programs in the past and think they're a good idea. I'd like know more about a few organizations.

Any names would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Andre

Hey Andre,

this is a great summer program based out of NH.

kismetrockfoundation.org/

Ron Kauk has a program near Merced that takes at-risk kids into Yosemite Valley and such. Very much about being in tune with nature and finding your place in it.

sacredrok.org/

Not climbing specific but Big Brothers Big Sisters does really good work.

Also not climbing specific, but the Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol and Young Marines can help shape a kid quickly. The caveat is that none of those organizations will accept drug users, dropouts, those with criminal records, ect.

Denver: citywild.org

http://www.bigcitymountaineers.org

Outward Bound has programs for this population: my husband taught any number of them in years past.

I'm the program director at cityWILD (.org). I don't know if you are looking in the DC area or what info you are looking for but feel free to hit me up on MP or at kevin@citywild.org. We are located in Denver.

Just to add a note on the OP's post, there is a big difference between "at risk" and troubled youth... Sometimes the two can overlap, but many at risk kids are not at all troubled and vica versa.

Urban blazers out of Philly is a great program. I've been considering starting up something in my area. Gotta look into gear/financial support and legality issues but I would love to get something going.

Touchstone Youth Project touchstoneyouth.org

I'm looking to start something up specifically for that. I'm in Colorado Springs. I see programs, but not ones that only focus on at risk youth. I think it could be great to do, and hard considering the general lack of dough. That pushes it towards being non-profit though. Contact me if you want to hear anymore, but that same question started me thinking about making a program.

Bay Area Wilderness Training

www.bawt.org

Not a climbing program, but a very well organized outdoor program for inner-city youth. I got to visit them last fall and really enjoyed their approach to community development.

Big City Mountaineers gets a thumbs up from a friend of mine who works with their Bay Area chapter.

I used to be an Adventure Teacher for Youth Services Alternatives in the suburbs north of Philadelphia. It was a pretty sweet gig, I had two rock climbing gyms at different schools with cool features that I could set routes at and climb as much as I wanted to after work. The best part was that I got paid to go rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and kayaking while helping out troubled youth.

youthservicesagency.org/

By introducing them to climbing, are we helping them avoid degeneracy or giving them that last little push they need?