CITY KIDS CORE VALUES
CORE VALUES
City Kids’ Core Values are the principals we use to guide our work. From our programming to making decisions for the future of the organization, these five values are incorporated into everything we do.
mission
City Kids Wilderness Project’s mission is to build resiliency, broaden horizons, cultivate community, and develop skills for success in DC youth through a long-term, cohort-based model that utilizes both the wilderness and urban environment to encourage growth. City Kids aims to inspire youth to use their personal power to shape the future of their own lives and change in the greater community.
vision
A world where individuals, communities, and systems evolve to create a bright, inclusive, and just future for all youth. A community of cohesion and allyship where youth have the support they need to develop into confident young adults who are aware of their personal power.
message from our executive director
Dear Friends,
This year, I’ve been thinking about what it means to truly belong—not just to show up, but to feel seen, valued, and essential to something larger than ourselves. What are the conditions that must be true about the environment we’re in and the people we are around? As I have mused about my own life, belonging has felt different with each chapter. Yet, the consistent thread over the years has been a stable and strong sense of community, friends, and mentors.
We are living in a world where less than half of young Americans feel they have community anywhere and time spent in-person with friends has plummeted by 70% over two decades. Today’s youth face mounting pressures, often without the tools or space to thrive. We worked hard at City Kids this year to be the antidote – to create the container that allows a child to blossom and the conditions where belonging becomes the foundation for everything else. In 2025, City Kids offered 182 days of programs. We asked participants to trade their screens for community and connection, spend time outside, test their limits, and try new things. The result – applications doubled, trip engagement tripled, and 92% of participants grew in one or more of the critical social-emotional skills that help all of us thrive.
In the pages that follow, you’ll read about the adventures we took, meet the sixth graders who took their first nervous steps as Rangers, the senior who returned as Assistant Camp Director, and the Behavior Support Specialist—herself an alum—who helped create the emotional safety that allows discovery.
Together, these stories remind us that belonging isn’t built by programs alone—it’s created in every shared laugh on and off the trail, every moment of trust between mentor and youth, and every space where a young person feels both safe and seen. City Kids continues to be that space—a community where each child’s voice, potential, and presence matter.
Thank you for believing in this work. Your support helps us close the belonging gap one young person, one experience, one genuine connection at a time.
With gratitude,
Sarah Cryder
Executive Director
“Today’s youth face mounting pressures, often without the tools or space to thrive. We worked hard at City Kids this year to be the antidote – to create the container that allows a child to blossom and the conditions where belonging becomes the foundation for everything else.”
Demographics
Did you know?
Wards 7 & 8 are historically the most underinvested communities in DC with the least access to out-of-school-time (OST) activities. Only 35% of the OST need is being met in Wards 7 & 8, by existing programs (DC Policy Center’s OST Needs Assessment, 2023).
Our Impact
89%
of youth feel City Kids encourages them to take risks and challenge themselves.
100%
of high school students shared that City Kids empowers youth to make decisions, reflect on their growth, and take ownership of their path.
94%
of City Kids seniors graduated from high school compared to DC Public Schools’ 76% graduation rate.
THE BELONGING GAP
Today’s youth face an unprecedented belonging gap. Digital technology has replaced face-to-face connection. The pandemic disrupted social structures that never fully recovered, leaving many without consistent spaces where they’re known, seen, and valued. For young people of color, the barriers run deeper: high entry costs, limited proximity to green space, and historic exclusion have made nature feel inaccessible or unsafe—despite being a proven determinant of mental health and well-being.
1 in 3 young Americans feel no strong sense of belonging or are still searching for it.
Harvard Political Review, 2025
22% report becoming more socially isolated after the pandemic, many finding their friend groups and community organizations never returned to normal.
Harvard Political Review, 2025
20% of National Park visitors are people of color, despite comprising 40% of the US population.
National Park Service, 2022
44% more park space per person exists in predominantly white neighborhoods compared to communities with mostly people of color.
National Audubon Society, 2021
Why This Matters
Belonging is a fundamental human need—one that must be met before individuals can develop self-esteem, achieve mastery, and reach their full potential. Research shows that exposure to outdoor spaces increases social connectivity and decreases peer conflict. Youth in outdoor programs show 30% more growth in Skills for Thriving—the essential personal, social, academic, and economic capacities to navigate life’s challenges:
Grit • Self-Management • Social Awareness • Growth Mindset • Self-Efficacy • Agency
Without belonging, young people cannot develop these critical skills. Without these skills, they cannot thrive.
How City Kids Closes the Gap
City Kids addresses the belonging crisis through a simple, but powerful model: consistent, long-term community in outdoor spaces. By removing financial barriers, creating affinity spaces for youth of color, and prioritizing face-to-face connection over seven years, we’re proving that belonging isn’t accidental—it’s built through intentional investment in relationships and access.
- 98% of youth feel they belong at City Kids.
- 87% say City Kids consistently reaffirms their abilities and strengths.
- 81% of youth agree that being without their phone or devices for two weeks positively impacted their connection to peers and adults.
OUR MODEL
Our program is based around three core principles: long-term youth engagement, outdoor adventure and experiential education programming, and goal setting with a focus on future planning. Youth develop a positive self-identity by overcoming challenges, building strong relationships with peers and adult mentors, and exploring personal possibilities.
Small Long-Term Cohorts
From trekking through the wilderness to navigating friendships, 20-25 youth undertake every journey together from 6th-12th grade.
Strengths-Based Curriculum
Our robust and culturally-competent curriculum is grounded in the foundation of Positive Youth Development principles and Social Emotional Learning.
Experiential Programs
From Wyoming to Washington DC, we offer unique outdoor experiences that serve as a classroom for adventure and self-discovery.
BIPOC Affinity Space
We are an affinity space for BIPOC youth to explore outdoor spaces in a community that centers, celebrates, and uplifts BIPOC stories, voices, and experiences.
Commitment to Accessibility
By eliminating cost barriers such as expensive gear, permits, and travel requirements, we create life-changing experiences at no cost to youth and families.
6th Grade
RANGERS
be courageous
Staff recruit sixth grade youth attending DC public schools. During this applicant period, City Kids is looking for a child’s willingness to try new things; their cohesion with other youth, and a general excitement about the outdoors. Out of the 50+ youth applying to the program, 21 youth are selected.
Outdoor Adventures Include
• 4 Month Application Process including Camping Overnight Trips (DC)
• First Summer at Broken Arrow Ranch (WY)
• Car Camping in Yellowstone National Park and Overnight Canoe Trip in Grand Teton National Park (WY)
7th Grade
MOUNTAINEERS
be compassionate
Beginning with summer camp in Jackson, first year participants broaden their world view by experiencing a new place away from home. As the school year begins, a strong focus on using local, outdoor spaces to set goals, try new things, increase self-knowledge, and appreciate other people and experiences. This prepares youth to apply what they have learned at City Kids inside and outside of school.
Outdoor Adventures Include
- Overnight Backpacking Training in Annapolis Rock (MD)
- Backpacking in the Wind River Range & Canoeing in Grand Teton National Park (WY)
8th Grade
ELITE
be excellent
In their 3rd year in the program, participants spend longer amounts of time in the backcountry, allowing them to deepen their hard skills mastery, connection to the wild spaces & connection to one another.
Outdoor Adventures Include
- Backpacking in Shenandoah National Park (DC)
- Spring Break Kayaking Trip in Charleston (SC)
- Sea Kayaking on Yellowstone Lake & Backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains (WY, ID)
9th Grade
LEADERSHIP
find your
personal power
In their fourth & final year of camper programming, participants explore their own agency in creating positive change in their communities through a week of social justice activities & conversations. They finish their session with new personal & group challenges – outdoor rock climbing and whitewater kayaking.
Outdoor Adventures Include
- Whitewater Kayaking & Mindfulness Programming
- 24-Hour Camping Solo, Outdoor Rock Climbing & Social Justice Workshops
10th-12th Grade
JET
create your vision
Year-round training opportunities lay the foundation for transferable job skills, and future-focused planning provides youth with a clear road map after high school.
JET Opportunities Include
- JET Camp Leaders at City Kids Summer Camp
- Advanced Outdoor Adventures with City Kids’ Partner Organizations
- Career Exploration & Internships
- Teton Crest Trail & Climbing the Grand Teton in WY
- Service Learning
- Summer Youth Employment Program in DC
City Kids
ALUMNI
Alumni receive check-ins and support for at least two years after completing the program and are eligible for:
- Alumni networking gatherings
- Volunteer engagement and job opportunities with City Kids programs
The First Year of City Kids Rangers
Last year, 125 sixth graders from across Washington, DC, applied for an extraordinary seven-year journey with City Kids—more than double the prior year. With only 25 spots available, the selection process was rigorous.
The JET Experience
When Kennadi first joined City Kids as a sixth grader, she was already the kind of kid who loved being outside. “I knew City Kids was an outdoorsy program, and I thought it was gonna be a whole bunch of camping trips,” she laughed. “But I realized—oh, it’s more than that.”
Helping Youth Find Their Place
Cornelia Franklin arrived in Jackson, Wyoming this summer and felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. “I always had this hope and dream of coming back to City Kids and working with the youth,” she said.
SUMMER CAMP
Summer camp at Broken Arrow Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming immerses youth in the wilderness of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Over seven years, participants progress through increasingly challenging expeditions—from car camping in Grand Teton National Park to multi-day canoe trips, backpacking adventures in the Wind River Range, and sea kayaking on Yellowstone Lake. Between adventures, ranch life anchors the experience: horseback riding, beloved games and traditions, and deep community built in cabins, around campfires, and on the peace porch. High school participants step into leadership as camp leaders, pursue internships in Jackson, and have the opportunity to summit the Grand Teton.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Calendar Year 2024
January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Individuals $988K
In-Kind $785K
Foundations & Corporations $697K
Federal & State $250K
Cabin Rental $33K
Investment Income $344K
Other Income $9K
Programs $2.2M
Management & General $504K
Fundraising $297K
THANK YOU!
Thank you to our incredible donors, partners, volunteers, and community for the investments you’ve made to ensure DC youth have the opportunity to experience connection, joy, and belonging. From Wyoming’s wilderness to DC’s green spaces, you’ve helped us create communities where young people don’t just participate—they thrive. We are immensely grateful and excited to continue building transformative experiences that inspire youth to achieve their own sense of personal possibility.
Link to: Our Donors
Corporate & Foundation Partners
Partners who have provided critical grant support to make City Kids programming possible.
Link to: Our Donors
Campfire Circle
The Campfire Circle program is an opportunity for individuals to make a powerful and direct impact on our community and youth that we serve.
Link to: Our Partners
Key Partners
Partners who have helped provide resources and expertise that propel City Kids’ mission forward.
Support Us
Consider making a donation today to provide enriching outdoor experiences for DC youth and to help redefine the way we think about learning and growing.