WoodNext supports many organizations that provide youth with new and exciting outdoor experiences that many lack access to due to financial and other barriers.
Through these programs, youth work with supportive adults and mentors, typically over a period of years. Each program introduces healthy activities and offers opportunities to build friendships and develop knowledge/skills (and in some cases, provides access to leadership positions or paid internships). These programs incorporate research-based components that promote positive youth development. Some of the organizations we support include:
Explore Austin (Austin, TX)
Explore Austin is a 6-year mentorship, leadership, and outdoor adventure program that begins when youth “Explorers” enter 7th grade and ends upon high school graduation. Teams learn progressively more advanced outdoor skills (e.g., paddling, rock climbing, mountain biking, and rappelling) during weekend outings throughout the school year that culminates in a week-long summer wilderness trip.
Urban Roots (Austin, TX)
The Urban Roots farm provides young leaders with paid opportunities to grow food and learn new skills. Youth ages 14-17 help with all aspects of the farm and sell its produce at farmer’s markets. Urban Roots also donates 25,000+ pounds of produce annually to local food banks. The organization is expanding to an additional 9 acre farm in South Austin.
Austin Youth River Watch (Austin, TX)
Austin Youth River Watch provides multi-year after-school and summer programs in environmental education for high school students. The summer program is a 6-week environmental service learning and outdoor recreation program that promotes youth development and provides exposure to careers in environmental science. This summer, youth have been learning about water quality testing and the Colorado River’s ecology. Students also have outdoor adventures such as camping, kayaking, and snorkeling, and participate in Austin creek trash cleanups.
The Woods Project (Houston, TX)
The Woods Project (no relation) partners with Houston high schools to identify students from economically-disadvantaged households who can benefit from their after-school clubs and weekend and summer wilderness education and immersion experiences. The students go to different wilderness locations for a 2-week summer trip and paddle or backpack in groups of 10, led by trained adult volunteers.
Memphis Rox (Memphis, TN)
Memphis Rox is a nonprofit rock climbing gym and community center in the Soulsville neighborhood of South Memphis. Memphis Rox provides rehabilitation and other programs that are accessible to all thanks to a sliding-scale fee. WoodNext supports its SoulSenders youth climbing program and Free After Three after-school program.
The just keep livin Foundation (multiple sites across US)
The just keep livin (JKL) Foundation, founded by Camila and Matthew McConaughey, supports inner-city high school students in improving their physical/mental health and academic performance. JKL students all over the country are given opportunities to enjoy outdoor fitness and fun. In Los Angeles, JKL recently hosted its 7th annual Beach Day, during which students participated in beach yoga and learned to surf.
City Kids Wilderness Project (Washington, DC)
City Kids provides year-round outdoor experiential programs to DC youth beginning in grade 6 and continuing through high school graduation. City Kids uses natural and wilderness settings to foster personal development. Activities take place in DC during the school year and at a multi-week summer camp in Wyoming, where youth can participate in white-water kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, and horseback riding.
