A single BOLD & GOLD trip can be life-changing for a young person. Embarking on a week-long backpacking trip brings innumerable opportunities for growth; overcoming physical challenges, learning to work as a team, and taking on leadership roles are all part of the experience. But we also believe in the power of youth having multiple connections to the outdoors, rather than one isolated adventure. 

Across the country, our programs continue to engage young people throughout the school year. We go snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing, host summer reunions and spring break trips, and even provide job skill development opportunities. We know that the outdoors can be a source of healing, growth, and joy for a lifetime. By offering multiple ways to explore, we hope young people can start to develop their unique connection with nature and adventure.

GROWING OUTDOOR ACCESS BY BUILDING COMMUNITY

Some of our biggest assets in the effort to get kids outside throughout the year are our partnerships within the Y and the larger outdoor community. Aaron Enz, the BOLD & GOLD Coordinator for the YMCA of Northern Utah, collaborates with the Share Winter Foundation and Solitude Mountain Resort to offer a unique winter program for youth in Salt Lake City. 

Though the Wasatch Mountains loom large over Salt Lake City, many kids that live in the valley never get a chance to hike or ski in their backyard mountain range. The Youth Instructional Skiing and Snowboarding Program gives young people the opportunity to get out into the Wasatch and learn outdoor sports together. 

Each Sunday for four weeks, youth head up Solitude Mountain Resort for ski and snowboard lessons. With the help of Share Winter, the Y of Northern Utah can offer financial assistance, transportation, rental equipment, and lift tickets, which greatly reduces the barriers to accessing winter sports and exploring the mountains. 

While not a BOLD & GOLD specific program, Youth Instructional Skiing and Snowboarding provides school-year engagement for our alumni and amazing opportunities for leadership development. Older teens, ages 15-17, can also participate in the Jr. Instructors Skiing and Snowboarding program. Upon successful completion of this session, they receive their Level 1 Ski Instructor certification and are eligible for employment at the nearby ski resorts. Last year, five participants went on to be hired as ski instructors!

To Enz, programs like this give youth something to look forward to throughout the year, especially those that may be struggling in school or otherwise. They also help build a stronger support network. Rather than a one-off experience, Y programs can provide those consistent safe spaces and trusted adults that youth can depend on over time.

This coming summer, returning BOLD & GOLD participants in Northern Utah can continue to develop confidence in the outdoors as Instructors in Training. After a week-long training trip in June, they can volunteer on regular BOLD & GOLD trips as assistants. Whether it's through learning to slide down snow or navigating along a trail in the mountains, we know that youth grow in diverse ways. All year round, we're dreaming up new ways to empower young people to step into their own unique leadership style.

The Youth Instructional Skiing and Snowboarding group at Solitude Mountain

HEAR FROM OUR STAFF

What do you think is the value of school-year programming?

“I think there is a part of every human that needs the outdoors in some capacity to live a healthy life. The more connections to the outdoors, the more chance that youth will keep it a part of their lives and also share it with others. If they can feel comfortable in the outdoors at a young age and develop a relationship and memories with it, then they will likely keep returning to it throughout life, or if not, they will yearn for it. This relationship with the outdoors is two-ways between the person and the earth, caring for each other.”

-Carol Yard, Wilderness Program Director, YMCA of the Pines

“Youth spend nearly 85% of their year in-school, with often only a few short months off for summer vacation. While we love playing outside during the summertime, it is just as exciting to explore WA State during the winter, spring, and fall! Plus, working with groups throughout the school year allows us to provide more custom experiences depending on the partner we are working with. Maybe it’s a school group who is looking to focus on team building with their 8th graders, or maybe we are working with a group of refugees who are excited to just play in the snow together—staying connected with participants throughout the school year allows us much more opportunity to broaden the scope of what we are able to do as a program and who we are partnering with to accomplish that.”

-Carly Roeser, BOLD & GOLD Program Director, YMCA of Greater Seattle

What is the impact of creating multiple connections to the outdoors?



“I think the BOLD & GOLD program is both about wilderness tripping, but also developing skills (both soft and hard) to be outdoors, independently and with a group outside of a BOLD & GOLD or camp setting. It's a huge step in making accessibility in the outdoors feel possible in many different contexts and capacities.”

-Angela Wunderlich, Program Director of Equity and Inclusion, YMCA of the North Camping Team 

“There is no one way to connect with the outdoors! Our goal is to provide diverse options of how folks can build community outside and allowing youth to have multiple connections with the outdoors gives them the chance to decide what works for them!”

-Carly Roeser, BOLD & GOLD Program Director, YMCA of Greater Seattle

Waiting in line at the chair lift at Solitude Mountain Resort in the Wasatch Mountains