Trails welcomes youth at the vulnerable age of 12, offering opportunities to those facing barriers to success. They are constantly faced with a combination of challenges stemming from their circumstances. These can include single-parent families, recent immigrant families, and exposure to risk factors including low income, violence, poor eduction, low physical and mental health, lack of family support and a high-risk fragmented community. By no fault of their own, they are at risk of not achieving positive life-outcomes and are most vulnerable to violence, poverty and crime.
The Four Seasons, Four Years, For Life program focuses on fostering community, emotional intelligence and self-knowledge through outdoor experiential education. Over the course of our year-round, four year program, we augment students' traditional schooling with intentional community building, conscious challenge and lifelong support, in order to position them for success.
Trails emphasizes growing and strengthening skills such as non-violent communication, conflict resolution, leadership, critical thinking, goal setting, stress management and reflection. With a focus on transference, participants build a positive engagement with the community, the outdoors, their peers and their authentic selves.
Over the course of four seasons, activities include: canoe trips, camping, swimming, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, high ropes, yoga, journaling, educational seminars, mindfulness, conflict resolution, group games, and community events.