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Wild & Wonderful Washington, DC: Strengthening Local Partnerships for Outdoor Learning
This event brought adventure…
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Empowering Future Leaders Through Career Exploration
City Kids is more than just outdoor adventures—our Job Experience Trainee (JET) program for high school students (grades 10-12) empowers participants to discover their passions, pursue their dreams, and step into their personal power.
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Trailblazers in Nature: Celebrating Black Pioneers Who Shaped Our Outdoor Legacy
At City Kids, we believe in the power of untold stories to inspire, educate, and transform.
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Welcome Melanie Holland-Orr, Director of Strategy & Operations
Since joining the team in fall of 2024, Melanie has brought her expertise and passion for youth development and operational excellence to the forefront of our work.
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City Kids Launches 2025 Snow Club Season, Breaking Barriers in Winter Sports
City Kids Wilderness Project launches its transformative 2025 Snow Club season, providing D.C. youth with novel access to winter sports.
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City Kids Annual Report 2023-24
This Annual Report shares the story of what is possible when youth are given opportunities for enrichment and challenge in an environment that embraces playfulness, fun, and genuine connection.
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City Kids Fall Programs: Fresh Changes and Adventures Ahead!
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.
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Welcome Back: N’Dea Stewart Returns to City Kids as Program Manager
We are thrilled to welcome back N’Dea Stewart as the Program Manager for the Elite and Leadership cohorts (8th-9th graders). Her deep passion for community and youth engagement, paired with her personal journey through City Kids, makes her an invaluable member of our team.
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Welcoming Taylore Willis as Director of DC Programs!
We are excited to introduce the newest member of the City Kids Wilderness Project family, Taylore Willis, who has joined us as Director of Programs, DC. Taylore comes to City Kids from Prince George’s County, Maryland, bringing an impressive background in environmental education and leadership.
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Summiting Dreams & Building Bonds in the Tetons
On July 28th, three City Kids JETs took part in the iconic Grand Climb!
For 28 summers, City Kids have journeyed from Washington, D.C. to the majestic landscapes of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, many for the first time, to embark on transformative outdoor adventures…
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City Kids Gear Up for Another Exciting Summer at Broken Arrow Ranch!
On June 20th, City Kids’ cornerstone experience—summer camp at Broken Arrow Ranch—will begin as our JET Camp Leaders (JCLs) and Mountaineers (7th Graders) arrive in […]
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From Wilderness to the World: City Kids Graduates Ready to Make a Difference
Every summer, the City Kids Wilderness Project bids farewell to its graduating class of senior JETs (Job Experience Trainees) as they complete their high school […]
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2024 DC Summer Youth Employment Program
At City Kids, summer’s arrival means it’s time to head west– but for City Kids’ JETs (Job Experience Trainees), the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer […]
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City Kids Recognized for Outstanding Leadership by Outdoor Alliance for Kids
In May, City Kids Wilderness Project took part in the annual OAK Week, a dedicated week of advocacy promoting youth engagement and outdoor equity, organized […]
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5 Ways City Kids Summer Camp Stands Out
City Kids provides DC youth with a transformative six-year journey marked by lasting friendships, personal growth, and invaluable life skills gained through wilderness exploration and […]
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What is a JET?
The theme of the City Kids program for high schoolers (JETs) is “create your vision.” JETs build skills for the future while exploring the aspects […]
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Snow Much Fun: Reflections from Snow Club
This January marked another exhilarating season for City Kids as we embarked on our third year of Snow Club programming. Thanks to the generous support […]
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City Kids Top 5 Hikes in the DMV
Did you know that Washington, DC, was rated the best big-city park system in the country for the third consecutive year by the Trust for […]
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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.
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Fostering a Legacy of Resilience & Connection
Vanessa Romero’s experience with City Kids in 2003 played a pivotal role in shaping her adulthood, influencing her journey as a parent.
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Empowering Youth Through Mindfulness
Empowering Youth Through Mindfulness In Year 1 of our groundbreaking partnership with Inward Bound Mindfulness, we’ll focus on empowering youth through mindfulness, sharing a commitment […]
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Volunteer Food Drop-Offs
We love our community of volunteers! If you are interested in helping out for one or more of these drop-off opportunities, please email your availability […]
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Fall Programs Update
Mountaineers in the Potomac River in late October. City Kids participants and staff kicked off the fall programs season with two fun gatherings, one for […]
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City Kids and Target Circle
We’ve been selected for Target Circle! From now through December 31, you can vote for us to receive funds from Target.
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A Grand Adventure: City Kids JETs Summit Grand Teton
After six years exploring Wyoming together, City Kids 2023 Grand Climbers reach new heights!
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Leading The Way: Montae’s Journey from Camper to Camp Director
Our new Camp Director, Montae Franklin, is a City Kids alum and former staff member! He met with Yael Schoenbaum, our new Development and Communications […]
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Summer Update: WY
Summer camp at Broken Arrow Ranch is off to a fantastic start! The Fox Cabin successfully completed their first backpacking trip to Elkhart Lake. Part […]
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Summer Update: DC
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at City Kids is not your typical summer job. SYEP is a locally funded six-week program sponsored by the […]
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The Rewilding Collective: Empowering Youth and Nurturing Conservation
We are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership that will amplify our mission of connecting D.C. youth with nature and nurturing their sense of belonging […]
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VIDEO | The CK Journey
The City Kids journey begins when youth enter the program in the sixth grade and continue through middle school, high school, and beyond. Watch this video to learn more!
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City Kids on WUSA9!
In case you missed it, tune it to see City Kids’ special feature on WUSA9. Participants and staff were interviewed about the program while on a recent horseback riding trip for SYEP.
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VIDEO | Snow Club at CK
Get an inside look into year two of City Kids’ Snow Club program. Youth are provided with free lift tickets, ski gear, transportation, ski and ride school, meals, and equipment rentals for all five on-hill ski/snowboarding lessons at Vail’s Whitetail Ski Resort.
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2021-2022
2021 has been a year of preserving what has historically worked for the organization and recognizing how important it is to incorporate new initiatives that allow them to flourish under our care.
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City Kids’ 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.
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Meet City Kids’ New Deputy Director!
We are happy to introduce you to Caroline Hamric, who joined the City Kids staff as our Deputy Director in September. Q: Welcome to City […]
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Fall Program Update
by Rodney Fuller, Director of Programs DC For the first time since the fall of 2019, we have over 20 trips planned for City Kids […]
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City Kid, Don’Zeal, featured in The Washington Post
Navigating the Wilderness, Avoiding Predators Urban and Rural Perspective by Courtland Milloy August 30, 2022 at 6:25 p.m. EDT About 2,000 miles from his home in […]
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City Kids 2022-2025 Strategic Plan
Learn about the three pillars of the strategic investments City Kids will be making between school year 2022-2025.
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Summer Camp in Jackson
As the Mountaineer cohort returned to their home away from home, you could see the smiles spread across their faces as they stepped off the […]
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Polo Clinic with Recreational Habits
On June 4th, 2022, twelve participants of the brand new Ranger Cohort attended a polo clinic that was led by City Kids partner organization, Recreational […]
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Summer Programming in DC
For youth living in Washington DC, summers are filled with local traditions and rites of passage. One specific rite of passage is the Mayor Marion […]
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City Kids DEI Statement of Beliefs
Beginning in the Fall of 2019, City Kids began working with The Raben Group, a public policy firm committed to opening the doors of power […]
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Welcome New CK Staff Victor and Arii!
Victor Medina – Ranger & Mountaineer Program Manager Victor Medina comes to City Kids from Groundwork Hudson Valley where, as the Youth Programs Manager, he […]
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Summer Hiring – 2022
City Kids is currently hiring for our summer seasonal staff team in Jackson, Wyoming. This is a tremendous opportunity to be a part of a […]
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Snow Club Update
By Dan Ebert, Development Manager and Victor Medina, Ranger & Mountaineer Program Manager This January and February, City Kids implemented our first ever Snow […]
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Spring 2022 Program Update
By Rodney Fuller, Director of Programs DC Greetings City Kids Family! Spring has arrived in DC, and with it, exciting updates from City Kids. Our […]
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VIDEO | CITY KIDS ON CBS MORNINGS
On December 14th, City Kids was featured on CBS Mornings in a segment focused on the therapeutic powers of nature.
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2020-2021
Twenty five years ago, City Kids opened its doors with a mission to use outdoor spaces to spark inspiration, provide practical life skills, instill self […]
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Fall Program Trips in the DMV
Check out all of the trips that City Kids has planned for the fall!
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Welcome, Rodney!
Meet the new Director of Programs in DC, Rodney Fuller and read about the 23 days he spent in the Rocky Mountains this summer.
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Fight for Children Partnership
City Kids is one of the newest members of the Fight For Children Youth Development Institute.
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Northern VA Therapeutic Riding Center Partnership
City Kids partners with the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program to provide DC youth with more opportunities to ride horses.
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City Kids Selected for Vail Resorts Skiing Partnership
Vail Resorts and the Katz Amsterdam Foundation will fund five on-snow sessions for City Kids youth during the winter of 2022.
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Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at City Kids
Learn more about SYEP and the 6 weeks of virtual programming that City Kids facilitated for participants while they were in DC over the summer.
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Summer Camp 2021 – Update from Broken Arrow Ranch
As I write this, it is hard to believe that we are a week away from wrapping up our 2021 summer at Broken Arrow Ranch in Jackson Hole, WY.
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Climbing the Grand Teton
Every summer, City Kids’ senior JETs have the opportunity to climb the Grand Teton, the tallest peak in the Teton range with its summit standing at over two and a half miles above sea level.
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Summer Celebration in Wyoming
For over 10 years, Kitty and John Resor have graciously hosted the City Kids Summer Celebration at their home in Teton Valley. This year was a special celebration as we gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the organization.
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25 Years of City Kids – At A Glance
Take a walk through the timeline of City Kids as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
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PRESS RELEASE: City Kids Celebrates 25 Years
Since 1996, the organization has impacted +500 youth through DC and Wyoming programming.
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VIDEO | Adarius Henderson Interview with The Weather Channel
Adarius Henderson, CK Alum, speaks with The Weather Channel about his experiences as a City Kid and his time in Wyoming. View Video ->
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Summer Camp 2021: COVID-19 Risk Mitigation
While many activities at City Kids are outside, this summer all activities other than cabin time will move outside including meals and traditional indoor classes.
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JET Spotlight
Written by Meena Fernald, Associate Program Director Timia Shaffer is an entrepreneur, business owner, high school senior, and City Kids JET. A few months […]
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Winter & Spring Programming Update
After a few weeks off during our winter break, City Kids participants and staff were excited to resume programming as the Winter/Spring 2021 Program Season […]
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New City Kids Staff Members
At the start of the new year, City Kids was fortunate to be joined by two new staff members. Starting with the new JET Program […]
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CK Continuous Learning Newsletter February 2021
We’ve created this newsletter in the spirit of true community cohesion, learning, and growth. Each section of this newsletter is dedicated to one of the […]
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CK Continuous Learning Newsletter December 2020
A seasonal newsletter on Youth Development, Risk Management & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
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Fall Programming Update
City Kids kicked off our 2020-21 Program Year on Monday, September 28th with our Fall Kick-off Event. Typically, the kick-off event is held in-person at […]
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Alumni Spotlight
Learn more about how Iisis, City Kids Alum, is making the most of 2020 with the skills she gained at City Kids.
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A Summer Like No Other
When the COVID-19 pandemic closed City Kids Wilderness Project’s offices and postponed our programming in March, as an organization, we, like the rest of the world, had no idea how long we would remain in a state of isolation.
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CK Continuous Learning Newsletter October 2020
A seasonal newsletter on Youth Development, Risk Management & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
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A Summer Like No Other – VIDEO
Get a glimpse of the work City Kids has been doing over the summer of 2020 and how two CK youth have been affected by recent events.
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2019
In the face of a global pandemic, a national movement demanding racial justice, and an Executive Director transition, we are entering a new chapter in […]
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JET Talks – EPISODE 2: Family & Friendship
Check out the second episode of JET Talks, a new podcast designed and created by City Kids JETs for the City Kids community. Throughout the […]
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Support City Kids through Old Bill’s Fun Run
City Kids is proud to join the over 200 nonprofits who are participating in Old Bill’s Fun Run this year. Old Bill’s has always been […]
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Fall Programming Update
As you likely know, DC Public Schools will move to virtual and distance learning for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. In an effort […]
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JET Talks – Episode 1: Alone & Surviving
Check out the first episode of JET Talks, a new podcast designed and created by City Kids JETs for the City Kids community. Throughout the […]
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Nature Must Be Accessible to All
Recently featured in the Parks and Recreation Magazine, this article was written by Alumni Engagement and Success Partner, Priya Cook, with a focus on City Kids.
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Making the Most of Summer
City Kids kicked off its 2020 virtual summer program season with a Zoom ceremony on Saturday, June 13th that gave an overview of upcoming virtual […]
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An Executive Transition and a Look to the Future
At the end of last month, we marked Eloise Russo’s departure from City Kids after 10 years of service to the organization. Our programs, staff […]
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City Kids Community: We Love You
To our Black youth and families, colleagues, and community members: We Love You. You are Important. You Matter. We are Here for You.
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Anti-Racism Resources
Ways to take action to support the Black community: Educate yourself; call your communities to this work; listen to Black voices; donate to Black-led organizations and movements; and stay updated and engaged.
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CK Continuous Learning Newsletter June 2020
A seasonal newsletter on Youth Development, Risk Management & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
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Leadership Transition Press Release
Eloise Russo, Executive Director of City Kids Wilderness Project Announces Departure
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PRESS RELEASE
City Kids leverages DC and WY guidance and feedback from participant families to make tough decisions on summer programming.
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CK Continuous Learning Newsletter April 2020
A seasonal newsletter on Youth Development, Risk Management & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
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VIDEO | City Kids Gets $1,000 Donation From Get Up DC
It’s founder, Randy Luskey, started City Kids as an experiential program to teach children how to be prepared for life beyond learning possible in a traditional classroom.
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Climbing to New Heights
On Saturday, February 1, as Elite & Leadership Program Coordinator, N’Dea Stewart led 10 City Kids from the Leadership cohort in the first of several indoor rock climbing trips of the year.
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New City Kids Staff Members
As we start the new year, we are fortunate to be joined by several new staff members.
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City Kids Hit the Slopes
Our Winter/Spring program season kicked off on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Whitetail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, PA. In this cross-program level activity, over 20 Leadership (9th grade) and JET (10th-12th grade) participants spent the day snow tubing.
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CK Continuous Learning Newsletter February 2020
A Seasonal Newsletter on Youth Development, Risk Management & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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Patagonia Community Raises $10 Million for the Planet in 17 Days
Patagonia announced today that its community raised $10 million in donations to 1,043 grassroots environmental organizations in 17 days.
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2018
For the past 23 years, City Kids has provided extraordinary opportunities for youth, and in 2018, we made critical investments in the organization in order to sustain this work and our impact for many more years to come.
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VIDEO | City Kids Offers DC Students an Environmental Education
“A D.C. nonprofit that believes children do some of their best learning outside surrounded by nature says kids growing up in the city shouldn’t miss out on environmental education.”
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A Journey to Alaska Inspires Gratitude and Feelings of Self-Accomplishment
In an effort to share just how transformative the outdoors is for City Kids youth, we sat down with Josh, a current City Kid participant, to hear more about his recent adventure to Alaska.
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2017
Every year, City Kids provides programming and support for over 130 DC youth and young adults. In recent years, several alumni have joined our staff and are now leading City Kids program activities.
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KHOL Interviews City Kids Student Daysiana Godbee
City Kids student Daysiana describes her experience coming from Washington DC and discovering the great outdoors in Wyoming.
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2018 Eleanor Eells Award Winners
Each year, ACA’s Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence recognizes camps that embody the award’s namesake by developing superior programming.
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‘One of the Best’ Nonprofits in 2018-19 by the Catalogue for Philanthropy
After a careful vetting process, the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington has selected City Kids Wilderness Project to be part of the Class of 2018-19.
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City Kids Receives Award of Excellence
In the sixth episode of CampWire, meet the five winners of the Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence.
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Get Out: Nurturing A Bond Between Black People and Nature
A 2011 National Park Service survey found that just 7 percent of all park system visitors were black. But there is a growing effort to nurture the relationship between African-Americans and the outdoors.
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Program Connects At-Risk Kids with Nature
Thomas Jones, 17, is an inner-city kid who, statistically, had a greater chance of dropping out of high school or getting shipped off to prison […]
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Official Selections for the 2016 SHIFT Awards
What do a Washington DC nonprofit, a hunting and angling organization and an outdoor adventure app have in common? They, and thirty other initiatives, are all official selections for The 2016 SHIFT Awards.
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GET OUT: Mountain Medicine
As I sat there with tears in my eyes I couldn’t find anything to say to my teammates, people who were now my family. We had made it so far but I was ready to retrace every grueling step back down.
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City Kids Learn Life Lessons
It’s your first time in Jackson. You step off the plane, gawking at your surroundings. Then what? “I looked up at the sky, I looked up at all the stars,” Martinae Irving said. “In D.C. what you think is a star is really just a plane.”
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City Kids Featured by the Outdoor Industry Association
Shouldering full packs as they hiked along in the Gros Ventre Wilderness, a group of high school students caught a glimpse of something moving in the distance.
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Watch City Kids on the Food Network!
Holiday: Impossible – For the holidays, Chef Robert Irvine is heading west to Jackson Hole, Wyo. to visit the City Kids Wilderness Project, a camp in the heart of the Grand Teton Mountains that welcomes at-risk teens from the inner city of Washington, D.C.
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City Kids Featured in JH Style Magazine – 2015
Spotlight on Nonprofits Every summer, kids from Washington D.C.’s most vulnerable communities come out to Jackson for an experiential program that teaches them valuable skills […]
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City Kids Featured in Jackson Hole News & Guide – 2015
City Kids Know No Bounds Over the last three weeks a large group has spent time in Jackson Hole kayaking, whitewater rafting, backpacking, camping and […]
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City Kids Featured in Washingtonian – 2015
City Kids Wilderness Project Turns 20, Looks Forward to Its Next Decade Landing at the airport in Jackson Hole in 1996 was a breathless experience: […]
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2014
For nearly 20 years, City Kids has provided extraordinary opportunities for our youth, and in 2014, we worked to strengthen our foundation to ensure that […]
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City Kids featured on the NOLS Blog – 2014
City Kids and the Wilderness Risk Management Conference The Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) unites hundreds of the nation’s leading outdoor organizations, schools, and businesses […]
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2013
In the past three years, City Kids has undergone a significant transformation in order to increase our impact and provide more comprehensive services for our […]
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2012
In 2012, City Kids Wilderness Project reached some key milestones on an exciting path of growth. We served a record number of youth and provided […]
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City Kids Featured as WAMU’s July 2012 Community Minute
Community Minute: Using the Natural World to Teach Life Skills City Kids Wilderness Project works to provide educational enrichment activities and outdoor adventure programming for underserved […]
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City Kids Wilderness Project Annual Report 2011
As we reflect on 2011, we are so thankful for our dedicated staff, motivated young people, passionate board members, and generous donors. City Kids Wilderness […]
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City Kids Featured in the December 2011 Washingtonian
For a teenager who’s never left the District’s inner city, kayaking the Snake River might seem like something that happens only in the movies. But […]
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