MISSION:  

ToEMPOWER underserved urban youth and U.S. Military Veterans through transformative wilderness leadershipPROGRAMS and mutually beneficial mentor relationships.

VISION:

WYLD envisions a city where every youth and returning U.S. Military Veteran is given anOPPORTUNITY to explore, connect and discoverthrough nature.

explore:  to examine carefully; to travel to new places (internally and externally)

connect:  to provide experiences that show the world, events and actions to be interrelated and interdependent.

discover:  to create realizations through direct experiences and understanding.

Explore, connect and discover….

1. themselves: to develop a confident understanding of who they are and what they are capable of achieving.
2. mentors: to maintain a positive role-model to provide support and guidance.
3. nature: to create alternative, healing experiences outside the normal urban environment.
4. community:to facilitate meaningful changes in the neighborhoods where we live.

VALUES:

We believe that youth and veterans canPROSPER through meaningful mentor relationships instill confidence, compassion and hope.

We recognize that each youth and veteran maintains inherent potential and capability to attain and maintain aTHRIVING LIFE.

We seek to provide uniquely powerful wilderness experiences that focus on play,HEALTH, empathy, inclusion and fun.

We are united by the shared responsibility to foster environmental stewardship and to value diversity.

We believe in providing opportunities for youth and veterans to understand their unique role in creating positive community connectionsthrough the development of cultural awareness and ecological sensitivity.

We are united by a commitment to work with veterans, youth and their families by providing opportunities throughout middle school and high school to help students achieve their personal and academic best.