CATCHING UP
CatRock Ventures and Discover Outdoors Foundation Join Forces to Increase Positive Community Impact
Nonprofits come together to provide innovative outdoor programming for underserved youth that builds leadership skills, forges a commitment to environmental stewardship and community service, and provides educational counseling.
For years, CatRock Ventures and Discover Outdoors Foundation have each promoted diversity and equity in America’s outdoor spaces with inspired programs specifically designed for New York City’s undeserved youth in communities of color. Now these two nonprofits have come together to provide economically disadvantaged middle and high school students with a comprehensive range of outdoor adventure, community service, and educational programs that teach leadership skills, environmental stewardship, and self-confidence. The goal? Empowering even more young people to become engaged outdoor and community leaders.
“CatRock Ventures and Discover Outdoors Foundation share similar missions and values so it was an easy decision to unite under the same umbrella,” explains Craig Meisner, the co-founder and executive director of CatRock Ventures. “Together we will enable more underserved New York City youth to experience both the natural beauty and positive life lessons that come from being in the outdoors.”
Joining the CatRock family was an easy and natural decision for Kirk Reynolds, Discover Outdoors Foundation founder. “We have always wanted to reach more New York City inner city students and schools and ensure that no one misses out on experiencing the outdoors. Under one roof, we hope to achieve greater scale. CatRock and Discovers Outdoors Foundation can do more together than apart.”
CatRock Ventures will continue to offer its existing programming as it welcomes and delivers Discover Outdoors Foundation programs to the community.
CatRock offers transformative, hands-on outdoor programs and experiences for Bronx high school students. The CatRock Youth Leadership Academy is a rigorous multi-year training and certification program featuring outdoor expeditions, outdoor skills development, leadership training, plus environmental education and wilderness first aid certification. CatRock Community Service Learning enables students to engage in community and environmental service learning experiences like park clean-ups, tree plantings, and trail clearing in spots ranging from Bronx parks to Montana’s deep wilderness. CatRock College and Career Advisory offers college and career guidance designed to support student as they make educational and career choices. This partnership with New Settlement, a Bronx community center, offers college planning workshops and comprehensive one-on-one college counseling. CatRock Makerspace and Design Lab is a unique maker space program where students repair, design, and help produce their own outdoor gear using high- and low-tech tools including computers, 3D printers, and sewing machines. These last two programs take place at the CatRock Lodge, the central hub and meeting spot for the CatRock community where students hang out and do homework.
Discover Outdoors Foundation brings CatRock two unique programs that address the needs of middle schoolers and young women. The ALTA Backpacking Program is a year-long program for underserved New York City middle school boys and girls that teaches critical camping and hiking skills and culminates in live backpacking adventures in the mountains of upstate New York. As participants learn new skills, gain knowledge, and take on new challenges, they feel a growing confidence that radiates positively throughout their lives.
Young Women Who Crush (YWWC) is a mentorship and outdoor adventure program that empowers New York City high school girls and gender expansive youth through rock climbing adventures that build community, cultivate confidence, nurture leadership skills, and foster a deep respect for the natural world. YWWC’s thoughtful rock climbing curriculum helps young women recognize their own strength and realize their potential. Over the course of a school year, the mentees transform into strong, confident rock climbers capable of scaling cliffs the size of city buildings while supporting one another and experiencing the outdoors in a unique and meaningful way.
Operating under the CatRock Ventures name, these unique and distinct programs will open doors to opportunity by introducing middle and high school students ages 12 – 18, most of whom identify as Black and Hispanic, to the wonders of the outdoors. Over time, these young people will learn more than just how to thrive successfully in the wilderness; they will build invaluable leadership skills and self-confidence that they can take with them throughout their lives.
“CatRock’s impact will strengthen and increase with the addition of the Discover Outdoor Foundation programs,” adds Meisner. “We look forward to reaching more students and making a bigger difference in the communities we serve.”