The Woods Project: Empowering youth, one outdoor adventure at a time
The Woods Project connects high school student to the outdoors-- leading to unforgettable memories and powerful moments of growth and empowerment.
“I felt connected to nature when I saw a real elk for the first time in my life!" For Gerardo, that single moment on a trail in Olympic National Park captured something The Woods Project has spent two decades trying to give young people like him: a direct, unforgettable encounter with the natural world.
Houston high school students enjoy time outside together thanks to the Woods Projcet and WTA. Photo courtesy of the Woods Project.
The Woods Project connects Houston high school students with outdoor experiences they might never have otherwise. The group has partnered with Washington Trails Association (WTA) to get kids outside in Washington state since 2022. Since then, visits to the state have become a central part of the program.
On the trips, students learn to navigate, cook outdoors and set up camp. But those skills are really a way for students to gain confidence, resilience and a sense of what they're capable of. That mission mirrors the values at the heart of our gear libraries and Outdoor Leadership Training program, too. We want to help young people build lasting connections with the outdoors and make sure that trails are open to everyone, regardless of their background or income.
When unforgettable moments on trail translates to empowering youth, everyone wins. Photo courtesy of the Woods Project.
The Pacific Northwest compresses so much geological beauty into one place. For a Houston teenager, the terrain isn't just unfamiliar, it's almost otherworldly — from enormous trees to much smaller wonders. One student put it simply, "My favorite memory from my trip to Olympic National Park was seeing my very first banana slug!"
The Olympic National Park’s range of ecosystems — glacier carved peaks, temperate rainforests thick with moss, rivers, lakes and volcanic coastlines — means students experience several distinct environments in a single trip. For many students, this trip is the first time they've ever laid eyes on this type of nature.
Nothing beats a sunny day on trail! Photo courtesy of the Woods Project.
Some life-changing moments happen before students even reach the trailhead. For many, boarding a plane for the first time is a milestone, a physical marker of how far outside their comfort zone they're about to travel. Once in Washington, students head to Olympic National Park. They spend time with their longtime partner NatureBridge, whose Olympic campus offers an ideal introduction to the Pacific Northwest before students move into the backcountry.
"I had to lead in new situations and adapt,” said Eleanor, one of the participants. “I think these experiences will help me continue to lead in other places outside The Woods Project."
None of this would be possible without WTA’s gear libraries, which have been, in The Woods Project’s own words, a game changer. By borrowing equipment rather than purchasing and maintaining it, The Woods Project can instead put their resources toward transportation, food, volunteer training and scholarships so that no student misses this experience simply because they can't afford it.
The Woods Project provides an oppourtnity for students to get together outisde, making memories and builiding confidence. Photo courtesy of the Woods Project.
The partnership benefits both our organizations: we extend our mission of trail access and stewardship to a new generation of hikers, and The Woods Project can focus on what it does best: guiding students toward the powerful moments that can be made possible by time outside.
Xavier, one of the participants, described one of those experiences. "One mindset I want to bring home with me is that I can do whatever I set my mind to in life because I can do hard things." These are the defining experiences that WTA and The Woods Project want to continue to be a part of.
Comments