Take a Hike Program
Take a Hike Foundation works in partnership with school districts, and boards to empower vulnerable students with the skills, resilience, and well-being they need to graduate high school and achieve success – however they define it.
We embed one full-time mental health clinician, weekly land-based learning activities, and opportunities for community involvement in a full-time alternate education classroom. Partners provide everything they would normally supply for an alternate program: space, a teacher, a youth, and family worker, curriculum oversight, and support from a principal. Together, we offer a one-of-a-kind program that unites our strengths and expertise to help all students reach their full potential.
Embedded mental health supports
Each of Take a Hike’s full-time clinicians provides ongoing mental health support for the same small cohort of students, empowering them to develop healthy coping skills and move towards lasting change. These are supports that wouldn’t be available otherwise, that go above and beyond what public school systems can provide.
An evidence-based model
Take a Hike’s evidence-based model is supported by both academic research in child and youth development and more than two decades of Take a Hike student outcomes.
- Embedding mental health support in a school setting minimizes barriers and stigma, while leading to increased school engagement and academic success.
- Land-based learning every week and for 1-2 multi-day trips per year supports mental health and social and emotional development, as well as academic learning.
- A unique class culture and connection to the wider community cultivate a sense of belonging.
Empowering youth to thrive
Each Take a Hike program serves a cohort of 15-25 high school students aged 15-18, depending on the partner’s needs and capacity.
Participants are often struggling with past trauma, mental health challenges, and other complexities, but all see the program as a viable way to change their lives. In each program, an interdisciplinary team of staff work collaboratively to support students’ personal growth and foster a class culture of learning, healing, and growth.
Partnering with Take a Hike
Over the past five years, the number of Take a Hike program locations has tripled. We currently partner with 15 school districts across British Columbia – see our full list of programs here.
Our well-developed process for building partnerships is rooted in deep and collaborative relationships with partners. Every partnership we invest in is unique, and regional Take a Hike Program Managers help ensure each partnership’s ongoing success.
If you’re a school administrator interested in exploring whether Take a Hike is right for your community, contact us.
Anonymous
Retired Principal
Anonymous
Former Take a Hike youth