Elevate Youth

"Connection fuels creativity." https://lnkd.in/eEKkXCqn We're in our photography unit, and we love seeing how youth are engaging with nature around their school neighborhoods while connecting with our instructors, Outdoor Mentors and each other. Learning new things and fostering these connections support more flexible and creative critical thinking both in and out of school.

"The main event of the evening was the cornhole tournament, which was sponsored by MassBio, Cartesian Inc, Atomic Coffee, Discovery Life Sciences, and Titus Wealth Partners of the Rockefeller Global Family. 18 teams faced off in a fierce, but friendly, competition facilitated by Boston Cornhole. Teams such as the Beanbag Bandits, the Corn Fritters and the Caffeine Crusaders played two games each, with the top winners moving on to a single elimination round." Read more about the winners and how much money and support we raised for local Boston youth: https://lnkd.in/eMCUpnnr

With back-to-school time, we're excited thinking about all the outings and mentoring opportunities we have coming up this year, and also our annual cornhole tournament - the Elevate Games! Kids outside?! We got this in the BAG! Together, we're making sure that local youth can try mountain biking at Franklin Park, cooking at a cranberry bog on the South Shore or rock climbing right at Hammond Pond. Plus, you never know how our outdoor adventures will impact and inspire young people. Let's celebrate at the Elevate Games at Cisco Brewers Inc. in the Seaport on September 17th.

Our Let's Go Fishing event at Houghton's Pond was a ton of fun! Elevate Youth staff taught budding anglers how to cast their fishing rods, and then they had a chance to catch sunfish and trout. In addition, Friends of the Blue Hills staff and volunteers led family friends games and activities like watercolor painting. Even Senator Walter Timilty stopped by! We had the pleasure of seeing 143 people and can't wait to get our hooks back in the water next month. Big thank you to Mass DCR and MassWildlife for their support!

We're #hiring a new Lead Outdoor Youth Instructor in Boston, Massachusetts. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Come join us! Several sponsorship opportunities are available.

We learned more about climate resilience in Dorchester through a workshop with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay - it was inspiring to see about 20 teens involved! Check out how some young people are working on climate solutions in Eastern MA. https://lnkd.in/ecaHGvmT

We're thinking about all the learning happening this summer with Elevate Youth Campers, whether it's understanding the life cycle of newborn chicks or figuring how to setup a tent at a campsite. Through environmental education, our outdoor instructors "... aim to improve skills such as communication, critical thinking, and decision making (competence); develop a sense of moral and ethical consideration (character); increase self-efficacy and agency (confidence); and build social capital (connection)." Check out this full article about environmental education and positive youth development outcomes: https://lnkd.in/e4QjUn7a

Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR), Elevate Youth collaborated with our long-time partner Boys and Girls Club Dorchester to host two family fishing trips to the Brookline Reservoir in June. Our team provided instruction and equipment for parents and children to use, and our groups enjoyed a lot of success throughout the day - even in the rain! Many felt the best part was that each family went?home with a new fishing kit to use throughout the summer. Thank you Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Bass Pro Shops and MOOR for their generous funding and support of these fun summer activities. With your support, we can offer more summer activities to Boston's youth! Make a donation today at?https://lnkd.in/eCQUHhwB.?

As we dive into summer, we're offering fishing outings and trips to Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor in between the end of school and the start of Camp Elevate!