Kayaking adventure with teens!

Challenges and transformation on the river

This summer, 6 teen survivors in our programs went on a 4-night white-water kayaking trip with LEAP Wilderness Programs on the Deschutes River! Our Advocates Aline, Glynnis, and Tamar, who accompanied the group, wanted to share about this impactful experience:

"Many of the youth had never been camping before – or even left Portland – so this was a pretty intense outdoor adventure! But they were all up for all the challenges.

It was amazing to see them work through the hard parts together. They were constantly checking in with each other and helping if someone else was struggling or needed a break. Every night, we heard teens say that they felt very proud of themselves.

This mini community that they built is a feeling and an experience these teenagers are going to take with them forever. They faced fears, cultivated independence, and practiced important skills like asking for help and advocating for their needs. There’s no way this trip wasn’t singularly impactful to every one of these youth – we saw their confidence shoot through the roof!

Thank you to LEAP for opening these doors to the youth at Raphael House! We’re really grateful for the intention that they put into creating a cohesive group and a place where everyone could make mistakes in front of others on their rafts without judgment.

Please take some time to support them with a donation or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to get on the river again next summer!"

-Aline, Glynnis, and Tamar

Raphael House Advocates