Sacramento-area teens, 13-17 years old, will learn STEM, leadership and life skills at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Hack the Woods Camp in early November.
The program combines STEM education, social justice sessions, and personal development to provide youth from underrepresented communities the opportunity to gain important skills for future success.
Eligible participants are part of the Black Youth Leadership Project (BYLP) and Square Root Academy (SRA), co-sponsors of the camp. A generous grant from the City of Sacramento Youth Development is covering the cost for the 600 participants over the project period.
This past spring the three nonprofits collaboratively designed and delivered the first STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and Social Justice Camp experience; participants came from high priority communities in the City of Sacramento. The partnership is intended to meet the goals of each organization’s existing and ongoing programs while providing opportunities for safe outdoor recreation, teambuilding, and leadership for teens. Camps are led by mentors and educators trained jointly by the three organizations.
The overarching goals of the project are: 1) Strengthen youth development programming in Sacramento; 2) Foster academic success by providing impactful STEM and outdoor learning opportunities to low-income students; and 3) Promote youth empowerment by providing social justice and leadership training to youth from Sacramento’s high priority neighborhoods.
“We are excited to provide this program for these teens,” says Krissy McGill, Residential Director of Education, Sierra Nevada Journeys. “The combination of outdoor education, STEM lessons, and leadership insights gives the campers such a boost of confidence. It’s just amazing to see their sense of wonder as they explore ecosystems while learning teamwork and collaboration. They can sometimes come in guarded, but they leave with amazing confidence and enthusiasm.”
“Ten of us from BYLP attended last spring as mentors and it was a transformative experience not only for our students but for all of us. The shared experiences we had at camp continued long after leaving Sierra Nevada Journeys. At Hack the Woods, I facilitate the social justice workshops on advocacy and provide a safe space where the campers are seen and valued. It has been tremendously impactful and everything we do is done with intention. We lead with heart not head,” says Lorreen R. Pryor, President and CEO, BYLP.
“At Square Root Academy, we’re a nonprofit that brings STEM education to under resourced communities. Hack the Woods has been a particularly special opportunity for Sacramento students. Taking STEM concepts and learning to the great outdoors is an extraordinary experience for students. They’ve enjoyed new adventures and have challenged themselves to go beyond their comfort zone,” says Nicholas Haystings, Executive Director, Square Root Academy.
The camp takes place November 4-6, 2022, and April 14-16, 2023 at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Grizzly Creek Ranch outdoor environmental education camp in Portola, California. Learn more about the curriculum planned for November.
For more information about this and other programs provided by Sierra Nevada Journeys, please contact Andy Stephens, Program Director, 530-832-1085. If you know of a teen that may be interested in attending this one-of-a-kind camp, please visit: bylp.org/hackthewoods or squarerootacademy.com/camphackthewoods for more information.
About Sierra Nevada Journeys
Sierra Nevada Journeys is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers innovative outdoor, science-based education programs for youth to develop critical thinking skills and to inspire natural resource stewardship. Through multiple points of contact, our classroom and virtual-based programs, overnight science camps, professional development for teachers, and parent engagement opportunities surround students with resources they need to succeed. All programs are designed to foster higher cognition and build long-term student achievement. Of the 24,000 children that annually participate in our programs, 74 percent come from communities that face financial barriers and 70 percent are BIPOC, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Also, 13 percent of the individuals who attend our programs, are living with a disability.
About Black Youth Leadership Project
BYLP was established in 1999 as a non-profit and nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to developing California's next generation of public policy leaders. Since its inception, BYLP has served more than 4,500 students and has helped make the Capitol and its Black staff more accessible to our youth and community. Through its programs, BYLP seeks to introduce more youth to the legislative process in an effort to connect the need for and an understanding of democracy and public service at an early age. Through accumulation of concepts, ideas and a greater understanding of the role of citizen and government, BYLP lifts youth closer toward platforms of academic achievement, career growth and leadership opportunities.
BYLP is committed to ensuring the youth have a voice at the table during all discussions had by officials — whether elected or sworn to protect and serve. We believe the youth are the leaders they have been waiting for and are committed to empowering the youth as they assume position and lead this moment to a movement.
About Square Root Academy
Square Root Academy is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating underrepresented youth on the fundamentals of STEAM while emphasizing collaborative learning, innovation, and academic excellence. This goal is executed under our three key pillars: community involvement, project based learning, and professional STEAM exposure. We expose Academy scholars to the growing field of STEAM at no cost, while promoting creativity, leadership, and academic excellence.