Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation Celebrates 25 Years of Empowering Youth
Vancouver, BC – November, 15, 2025: This year marks 25 years of the Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation – a leader in providing early intervention and prevention mental health support in the public school system. This significant milestone demonstrates the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to youth mental health and education across Canada. This commitment was recently recognized by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade at the 2025 Business Distinction Awards, where the organization was named Non-Profit of the Year.
“Take a Hike has supported youth with a one-of-a-kind program for a quarter of a century – a milestone that honors our past, our community, and the youth we serve. But the work does not stop here. Today’s youth are navigating challenges like never before – the ongoing affordability crisis, combined with the lingering impacts of the pandemic and mounting global economic pressures, has pushed many families to the brink. As we begin to celebrate this anniversary, we also take this opportunity to reflect on the continued impact we are hoping to realize in the next 25 years. I’m hugely grateful that our vision has been matched by the commitment and belief of our donors. It’s with their support that we will get to the next milestone and continue to deliver our vital, life-changing program to youth.” – Gordon Matchett, CEO at Take a Hike Foundation.
Over the past 25 years, Take a Hike has supported over 2,000 youth experiencing vulnerability to change the trajectory of their lives. Take a Hike empowers youth through a full-time mental health and emotional well-being program combined with land-based learning and embedded in an alternate education classroom.
Take a Hike opened its flagship program in 2000 at John Oliver School in Vancouver. The 25th anniversary coincides with the opening of Take a Hike’s first program in Ontario this fall. After decades of measurable success in BC and changing the landscape of youth mental health support in the province, Take a Hike has expanded to launch a program in partnership with Simcoe County District School Board at Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie.
The organization has grown significantly since it was founded, with marked growth particularly evident from 2016. That year, Take a Hike operated out of four locations, served up to 80 youth, and had 15 or so staff members. With the expansion into Ontario marking 16 program locations now in operation, Take a Hike will now engage up to 320 youth per year, and has close to 60 people on staff.
The Take a Hike program is a proven path to healing, graduation, and a brighter future, with its impact evident in youth graduation rates, social return, and stories from alumni.
- Youth in the program have achieved a graduation rate of 82% over the previous five school years (vs. 64% for similar vulnerable youth)
- 85% of youth report significant mental health improvements
- 90% of youth in Take a Hike plan to attend post-secondary education after graduating
- Every dollar invested in Take a Hike returns a $5.60 to $13.40 social return
Be Part of the next 25 Years of Take a Hike