Santa Cruz County is an incredibly beautiful place with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, if you have the means and support. The youth we serve typically are not able to enjoy these benefits because of the hand they were dealt. MTNS2SEA not only brings accessibility to outdoor activities to youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity due to their circumstances, but also provides a safe space for personal growth through adventure. We believe that being outside and active with a supportive group of peers and mentors can help inspire youth to look deeply within to allow their best self to emerge.

MTNS2SEA leads youth on a path of self discovery and growth through adventures in the mountains and on the sea with a group of supportive peers and mentors. We have the privilege of watching the youth discover what they are made of through challenging themselves with new activities while supporting each other in a safe group cultivated by deep discussion and lessons on leadership and compassion.

Each week, the youth are brought into nature and start with an emotional well-being check-in. A safe space is created between the students for them to reveal what their “sign” says for the day. This is a chance for students to speak their truth and be heard. It is an impactful and intentional way to drop in to the day and prepare for the adventure.

Each adventure is designed to challenge the youth mentally and physically while providing opportunities for leadership and developing of employable skills. After every adventure, we ask them, “What have you learned about yourself? Have you grown in your confidence and belief in yourself?” The programming we provide gives them the self-belief that they can push their the boundaries and do things they usually wouldn’t do.

MTNS2SEA students are also engaging in the conversation about the human impact on our environment and are shown ways to help protect, restore, and conserve natural resources for future generations. By providing opportunities to safely and responsibly enjoy nature, MTNS2SEA is helping to cultivate the earth stewards of the future. The youth leave with a strong sense of their impact and encourage others to do better when it comes to the natural world.

The learning outcomes that we’re after are mainly about developing the self, about facing fears and challenges and overcoming those challenges. The youth realize the way to get through these experiences is to be present and use your peers and the MTNS2SEA mentors to grow. Through this process the youth develop valuable interpersonal skills which are really the key to success. Perhaps most important lesson the youth learn is compassion…for themselves, for others, and for the environment.

The program continues to grow from our first year with just 10 youth, to now serving over 50 youth per year with our Year-Long Adventurer program, Summer Program with Watsonville Police Activities League, and our newest addition, the Peer Mentorship Program giving students the opportunity to teach their peers the lessons they learned in MTNS2SEA. We look forward to continued growth in the years to come!