Supporting Youth on the Journey of their Lives
Youth today are navigating challenges like never before. They are growing up against the backdrop of an ongoing affordability crisis combined with the lingering impacts of the pandemic and global economic, political and environmental pressures.
For youth to achieve success and thrive in this context, they need the right mental health and well-being supports, healthy relationships and a connection to nature. With this support, youth have the capacity to change the trajectory of their lives and achieve success – however they define it.
I didn’t have much hope for my future. Now I can proudly say I will succeed! I now feel if there’s a choice to make, I will be able to make the right one. Take a Hike probably saved my life. – Take a Hike youth
Our program has a lasting impact on youth and communities through improvements in mental and physical well-being, social and emotional development, and academic development:
95%
of youth feel that time spent on the land helps improve their mental health
93%
of Take a Hike youth have graduated – most youth entering the program don’t believe they will ever graduate high school
89%
of youth feel that they can cope better with their mental health struggles
86%
of youth feel like they’ve developed the skills needed to be successful in the workplace
The mix of being in the wilderness, the positive environment, and the huge support from the therapist and staff has helped me come a long way… Take a Hike has made it possible for me to graduate, to get a job, to pick my life back up …so I can have a better future – Take a Hike youth
Take a Hike youth develop the skills they need to become resilient young adults who can face and overcome life’s challenges, including transitioning to further education, finding housing, building healthy relationships, and securing employment.
I find Take a Hike has helped me with my social anxiety. Since coming to Take a Hike, I’ve found talking to people has become much easier and I no longer have anxiety attacks if I’m in unfamiliar places. I challenge myself much more than I used to and I’m now going to college. – Take a Hike Youth
In our 2023/24 Yearbook, we dive into the achievements made by Take a Hike youth over the year. Hear from Take a Hike alumni, how current youth are doing, and more in our Yearbook.