National recognition and three-year investment will transform leadership programming for DC youth

We’re thrilled to share that City Kids has been selected to receive a three-year, $200,000 Character at Camp Implementation Grant from the American Camp Association. This highly competitive national grant program, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., recognizes camps as uniquely powerful environments for youth character development and positions City Kids among the leading organizations advancing this critical work.

The Character at Camp Initiative partners with a select group of camps across the country to intentionally cultivate character strengths in young people. Out of hundreds of applications, City Kids was chosen for our demonstrated commitment to nurturing confidence, leadership, and integrity for youth in our program—and for our vision to make that work even more impactful.

A Vote of Confidence in City Kids’ Model

This grant is a national validation of the transformative work City Kids has been doing for 30 years, recognizing that our outdoor adventure model, grounded in long-term relationships and culturally responsive programming, is both effective and essential.

At a time when youth-serving organizations are competing for limited philanthropic dollars, being selected for this grant demonstrates that City Kids’ approach stands out. We help build skills through carefully scaffolded experiences that meet youth where they are and support them through increasingly challenging outdoor experiences. These opportunities to build and demonstrate leadership help them become who they’re capable of and envision being.

How We’ll Use This Investment

Over the next three years, this grant will allow us to significantly expand and deepen our programming, particularly for middle and high school youth navigating critical developmental transitions. 

Enhanced Middle School Curriculum: Confidence & Integrity at a Critical Age

The transition from 8th to 9th grade is one of the most vulnerable periods in adolescent development. With grant support, we’re developing an enhanced curriculum that makes character-building explicit, culturally responsive, and deeply integrated into our outdoor programming, equipping youth with the tools to navigate high school with resilience and self-belief.

Expanded High School Outdoor Pathways: More Choice, Deeper Leadership

This grant allows us to introduce two additional advanced outdoor tracks—such as whitewater paddling and technical climbing—based on youth feedback and interest. By expanding this program, we create more opportunities for leadership development and ensure every participant finds an experience that resonates.

Professional Certifications & Career Pathways: From Participant to Leader

Many of our high school participants aspire to return to City Kids as counselors or pursue careers in outdoor education. We’ll provide opportunities to deepen their skillset through industry trainings and certifications in wilderness medicine, climbing, trip planning, risk management, and expedition leadership. This creates a meaningful talent pipeline for the next generation of diverse outdoor educators.

Why Character Development Matters Now

In a post-pandemic world, today’s youth grapple with unprecedented levels of isolation and anxiety, with digital screens often replacing the genuine face-to-face connections essential for healthy development. At City Kids, we’ve long recognized the restorative power of the outdoors and the transformative impact of wilderness experiences on youth development. Character strengths are foundational to positive youth development, the building blocks of social-emotional learning, and the soft skills that research shows determine long-term success. We use the wilderness as a powerful environment to nurture these capacities, empowering youth to thrive today and into the future.

Looking Ahead: Momentum & Growth

This grant is part of a larger story of organizational growth and impact. Over the past three years, City Kids has strengthened our curriculum through partnership with experts like Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School, expanded our evaluation capacity to track youth outcomes, and invested in leadership development for our staff. The Character at Camp Grant accelerates this momentum. By 2028, we aim to demonstrate measurable growth in confidence and integrity for our middle schoolers, meaningful outdoor pathway choices for all high school participants, and industry-recognized certifications that open doors to outdoor careers.

Thank You for Making This Possible

This grant is a testament to what City Kids has built over three decades, but it’s also a reflection of our community’s investment in our mission. Donor support, board leadership, volunteer commitment, and community partnerships have created the strong foundation that made us competitive for this opportunity.

As we embark on this three-year journey to deepen character development for our participants, we invite you to stay connected. Watch for updates in future newsletters, follow our progress on social media, and continue to advocate for outdoor equity for youth.