25 Years: A Timeline
In celebration of this anniversary, we wanted to share some key milestones from the last 25 years that demonstrate our history.
2025
- Take a Hike celebrates its 25th anniversary!!
- TAH opens its first program in Ontario, marking its 16th program location
- TAH is recognized by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade at the Business Distinction Awards and named Non-Profit of the Year
2024
- TAH opens four new programs: Coquitlam, Merritt, Mission, Okanagan Skaha
2023
- TAH’s legal name changes to Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation to more accurately reflect the organization’s evolving work, Program Model, and Theory of Change
- TAH opens programs in Vernon, West Vancouver, Central Okanagan
2022
- TAH opens a program in Sooke, marking the fourth program on Vancouver Island
- From 2022-24, TAH partnered with the Stz’uminus First Nation to operate a Take a Hike program—the Foundation’s first direct partnership with an Indigenous community
2021
- TAH’s outdoor programming moves away from an ‘adventure’ focus, replacing this with ‘land-based learning’, prioritising time spend in nature, learning from and on the land
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- This change in positioning coincided with a brand refresh
- Take a Hike opens a program in Saanich
2020
- Rapid switch to virtual programming during COVID-19
- TAH still manages to open a program in Cowichan
2019
- TAH opens two new programs: Delta and Nanaimo. Nanaimo marks TAH’s first program on Vancouver Island. TAH now serves up to 120 youth annually
2016
- TAH is operating out of four locations, serving up to 80 youth, with 15 or so staff members
- Gordon Matchett comes on board as CEO
2014
- TAH opens a program in Burnaby
2013
- TAH expands into the Interior, opening a program in the West Kootenays
2005
- During the first five years of the program, the outdoor adventure components grew steadily, from car camping to multi-day trips incorporating canoeing and backpacking
2004
- Breakfast and lunch programs introduced to meet youths’ basic needs
2000
- Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation is established to support the first Take a Hike program in Vancouver at John Oliver School