Youth Ecology and Adventure (YEA!) Camps

Project Partners: Gateway Mountain Center
Funds Granted: $75,000

Young people in the Tahoe region, especially those from lower-income families, are still struggling from the impacts of the pandemic. Many are experiencing challenges like anxiety and depression. Too often, screen time is replacing authentic, connected experiences and outdoor recreation.

Gateway Mountain Center’s Youth Ecology and Adventure (YEA!) Camps are helping high risk youth overcome adversity by connecting them to nature. Through YEA! Camps, young people engage in adventure activities like rock climbing, hiking, and kayaking. While gaining new outdoor skills, these young people are also building a connection to nature, themselves, and their community. 

With support from partners like the Tahoe Fund, YEA! Camps have expanded from a small pilot summer camp serving 20 kids to a year-round program supporting nearly 80 youth throughout the Tahoe Basin.