City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2023-24

This summer, I spoke to countless campers of all ages in the City Kids program and felt heartened to hear them describe their time as part of this community, in their DC and Jackson “homes,” in similar ways. It left me with a profound determination to thoughtfully care for and nurture the relationships, the sense of place, and the ongoing feeling of belonging and security that grows as a result of time spent with City Kids year after year.

In Fall 2022, City Kids launched a strategic plan that sought to reclaim why the organization was created to begin with: to build resiliency, broaden horizons, cultivate community, and develop skills for success in DC youth. The organization and everyone connected to it spent our time, energy, and resources nurturing relationships, and building strong systems, processes, and programs that allow youth and staff to meaningfully grow and evolve. And, we gave ourselves permission to release from that which did not. This Annual Report shares the story of what can happen when you stay laser focused on initiatives that are relevant to the current needs of youth, that develop and retain quality talent, and that allow us to measure how effective our investments are in meeting our mission. In this Annual Report, we are celebrating the great strides we are making towards achieving the three-year goals we’ve set against our highest priorities.