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 to personal empowerment, and nurturing a deep connection with nature. City Kids staff and Inward Bound faculty will lead programs to introduce the transformative potential of mindfulness, fostering self-awareness, well-being, and mindful communication. This collaboration is funded by Conservation Nation and is a vital part of their Rewilding Collective (see our summer announcement here).
In addition to adding mindfulness programming to some of our regular trips this year, Inward Bound will also provide mindfulness workshops for our Summer Youth Employment Program next summer. These workshops will deepen participants’ understanding of mindfulness and equip them with practical life skills. Each participant will receive Mindfulness Self-Care Gear, including an online Intro to Mindfulness course, a meditation cushion, a yoga mat, and a personal journal.
Our commitment to mindfulness extends to our staff—City Kids’ full-time team will be able to participate in community-building and mindful leadership programs designed by Inward Bound. These programs can help staff cultivate self-awareness, well-being, mindful communication, and compassionate leadership. Staff can also engage in one-on-one or group mentoring sessions with Inward Bound faculty and receive their own Mindfulness Self-Care Gear.
Beyond our first year of partnership, we’ll explore opportunities like scholarships for Inward Bound Teen Retreats, deeper integration of mindful leadership workshops, and the inclusion of mindfulness in City Kids Summer Camp. In this exciting partnership, City Kids, Inward Bound, and Conservation Nation work as collaborators, co-learners, and creators, aiming to empower youth with self-awareness, well-being, self-confidence, and interconnectedness.
The recent Mountaineer Trip to Annapolis Rock in South Mountain State Park, while focused on backpacking skills, also integrated research-based mindfulness practices. Youth engaged in activities that build physical and relational mindfulness. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to help youth master outdoor skills and nurture crucial social-emotional skills, deepening their connection with nature and themselves!