General Info:
cityWILD Mission and HistorycityWILD is a bold effort to bring the typically exclusive world of outdoor experiential education to a broad non-traditional audience: low-income youth of color. For the past ten years, cityWILD has been providing tuition-free, comprehensive experiential education programs for urban youth ( 10-18 years old ) in northeast Denver. Its mission is to provide low income, culturally diverse youth with outdoor and environmental service learning opportunities that promote developmental themes of personal empowerment, leadership and community participation.cityWILD was founded in 1997 and the first outdoor pilot trip was launched in 1998. Over the next year of all volunteered time, cityWILD founders wrote curricula, developed community connections, and secured funding to more formally launch in September 1999. Since then, cityWILD has expanded its programs and services to meet increased demand in the community. cityWILD's model encourages students to make healthy life decisions, allowing them to become role models and leaders in the community. cityWILD empowers youth to resist the negative influences of their community environment and potential challenges of their homes. Intensive programs ( students spend 1-4 afternoons per week throughout the school year ) are combined with dedicated staff and carefully coordinated support services, resulting in a positive influence on students' school, work, and family experiences.Merger with RiverReach RiverReach Youth Initiative was founded in 1992 by Jim Pearson, a Denver attorney and impassioned river rafter. From 1992-2007, RiverReach introduced community responsibility and outdoor adventures to more than 25, 000 participants and logged more than 50, 000 volunteer hours. The impact of their work proved to positively impact both the community and the kids who participated. After siginficant organizational growth under the leadership of Executive Director Greg Pratt, RiverReach chose to pursue a merger with cityWILD. By combining forces, these two nonprofits now serve more youth, more effectively, and with greater synergy. RiverReach's operations are bolstered by cityWILD's year-round programming, and its youth staff. In addition, cityWILD's mountain based Arkansas River operations will compliment RiverReach's urban based program.cityWILD and InclusivenessIn 2005 cityWILD was awarded funding for two years from the Denver Foundation to participate in their Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative ( ENII. ) The purpose of this initiative is for nonprofits to become more inclusive of diverse communities in every aspect of their organization. Although this funding is limited to two years, cityWILD is fully committed to continuing this work on an ongoing basis.