The Youth Adventure Program, or YAP, as it is commonly known, is not just another group of students enjoying the outdoors. No: they want to change the world.
“The official mission of YAP is twofold,” said YAP coordinator, sophomore Elena Gustafson. “One, it’s to provide Whitman students with leadership opportunities and leadership training. The second part is to provide these outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities for especially at risk, low-income underprivileged youth in the community.”
By teaching Whitman students how to lead young people on outdoor trips, especially those who are not extremely familiar with outdoor activities, YAP hopes these students will gain confidence in their ability as leaders, and positively influence younger people who may not have strong role models or influences in their lives. The programs that YAP puts on are planned as free-of-charge for youth as possible.
Gustafson started the fledgling program last April with the guidance of Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs, Sam “Salmon” Norgaard-Stroich. Since then, YAP has gained momentum, membership and funding. The group is supported through the Whitman Outdoor Program and the Center for Community Service and received funding from Youth Venture.
Youth Venture, a subgroup of ASHOKA, funds social entrepreneurship projects for people between the ages 12 and 20. This past year, the group awarded five Whitman student groups grants for projects, with YAP the full $1,000 possible. Prior to this, YAP had virtually no funding at all.
First-year Ari Frink, who will act as YAP’s coordinator next year, said that the process of gaining this funding was important to the overall vision of the group. The interviews and panels required to apply for funding forced the members to solidify their plans, infrastructures and logistics, as well as to have a clear idea of direction.
“Since last spring it’s amazing to see what was a concept has actually turned into a full-fledged really solid and well supported program,” Gustafson said.
Programs that the group has put on in the past year have included rock climbing, pool kayaking, snow shoeing, kayaking at Bennington lake and hiking.
Gustafson drew attention to a quote by Senegalese environmentalist, Baba Dioum: “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” Gustafson said that this quote has really influenced her in creating YAP.
“The generation below our age has really gotten to the point where they know more about these environmental problems halfway across the world than they do about their own backyard, and many kids don’t have the chance to get outside at all,” Gustafson said.
“I think the main thing is that we really feel that getting outdoors and having different outlets for kids is a really positive thing,” Frink said.
Gustafson, who has worked as a canoe leader at a girls’ camp in years past, said that she firmly believes in the affect outdoors can have on youth.
“I know this sounds really cliché, but I’ve been able to see the change in the girls who’ve been on my canoe trips, when they get that click with nature. It’s hard to describe that, and there’s no way to put that into better words that don’t sound as cheesy as that.”
In the future, Frink hopes that the youth currently involved in the program can have a more active role in planning activities, to make the group self-perpetuating.
“I’d love to see YAP really interact with the juvenile justice center, and to really start working with really at-risk kids. Ultimately, it would be great to be able to lead them to the next step which is having them come back as leaders and have roles where they can continue to be active in YAP,” Frink said.
