City Kids Fall Programs: Fresh Changes and Adventures Ahead!
Our fall kickoff event for youth and families on September 25th was a tremendous success, filled with excitement and anticipation for the season ahead. Check out some of our favorite photos!
An Enhanced Program Model
In response to invaluable feedback and our commitment to evolving with the needs of our community, we are thrilled to unveil several enhancements to our program model this fall. Our new approach emphasizes cross-cohort connections through shared outdoor adventures. These all-cohort activities not only promote critical life skills but also enhance the bonds between participants, encouraging them to grow as individuals and as a community.
City Kids offers a unique model in DC, providing year-round outdoor activities for small cohorts over a six-plus-year timeframe with the same group of youth—creating a distinct opportunity to build lifelong friendships and a deep sense of community.
“Our effectiveness lies in recognizing the importance of the in-between moments as children develop their individuality—when they figure out how to belong to both themselves and others during this formative time of life. It’s the quiet moments with a friend on a long hike or the laughter around a campfire. Over six years, youth share unstructured time on and off the trail, creating bonds in magical places both at home and in Jackson Hole. In these spaces, they find a blend of shared experiences and common ground while learning to respect and appreciate differences.” — Sarah Cryder
Increased Engagement & Accessibility
In Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8, access to after-school and out-of-school programs remains limited, with only 34-35% of students benefiting from such opportunities, according to the DC Policy Center’s 2023 OST Needs Assessment. To address this challenge and maximize access to the benefits of programming, we are working collaboratively with families to enhance engagement and are expanding our programming beyond weekends to include weekday offerings and school-closure dates.
Our vision is to provide an enriching year-round program where every participant feels engaged and eager to join, with particular investment in our DC-based programs. We aim for each participant to experience at least one trip per month, allowing them to cultivate lasting connections with peers and mentors.
Meaningful Partnerships
We are proud to continue collaborations with valued partners such as Inward Bound Mindfulness, Conservation Nation, Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School, and the Opportunity Network. Together, we enhance our programmatic offerings, integrating team-building exercises, mindfulness practices, and culturally responsive programming. Our staff are working closely with the Opportunity Network to co-create a cohesive curriculum for career exploration, internship sessions, and postgraduate and professional development for City Kids JETs (Job Experience Trainees).
Fall Trip Highlights
All cohorts in partnership with Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School will have hands-on experiences such as high ropes course challenges, games, and problem-solving activities.
Mountaineers (7th Graders) will go paddling on the Potomac with the Washington Canoe Club, backpack along the Appalachian Trail, and indoor climbing at Sportrock.
Elite (8th Graders) will go backpacking overnight in Shenandoah National Park, biking on the C&O Canal with Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), and focus on outdoor living skills.
Leadership (9th Graders) will go car camping in Prince William Forest Park, deepen their mindfulness practice with Inward Bound, and have kayak pool sessions with Calleva.
JETS (10th-12th Graders): In addition to biking trips, canoeing, and ropes courses, they will be interviewing for the JET program track of their choice that they will embark on during their spring & summer sessions. JET program tracks include becoming a Junior Camp Leader during summer camp, a career exploration or intern session, embarking on outdoor adventures with partner programs, or completing our rigorous outdoor session in Wyoming including hiking the Teton Crest Trail & climbing the Grand Teton!