STORIES OF IMPACT | Corey R.
How a CatRock Education Changed a Life
“What you learn at CatRock is different from what you learn in high school,” says Corey, a third year CatRock student. “Educators at school teach you core subjects like mathematics. Educators at CatRock teach you how to become a better person. It sounds weird to call them educators, but that’s what they are.”
Corey’s journey of personal development started almost three years ago when he first heard of CatRock. Like many Bronx youth, the promise of adventure beyond New York City appealed to Corey whose “only outdoor activity before joining CatRock was walking to school.” Through CatRock’s programming, Corey has developed a passion for skiing and hiking, two activities that neither he nor his family would have thought of doing before.
CatRock increases access to and participation in outdoor adventure activities by removing the social, cultural, and economic barriers faced by New York City youth. But according to Corey, his involvement with CatRock has done more than improve his level of fitness through exposure to new outdoor activities. “Doing things that I never thought I’d do, like skiing in Vermont and leading younger students on hiking trips in Hook Mountain Park, has been such an empowering experience. But my experience at CatRock has also helped me become a less self-absorbed person.”
“Doing things that I never thought I’d do, like skiing in Vermont and leading younger students on hiking trips in Hook Mountain Park, has been such an empowering experience. But my experience at CatRock has also helped me become a less self-absorbed person.”
This unanticipated outcome has helped Corey realize that he would like to become an educator focused on empowering the next generation of young people instead of a doctor. “My relationship with Craig [CatRock’s executive director] has been the most important factor in making that change. His generosity, the work he does with young people, and the energy he brings has inspired me to become a teacher.”
CatRock staff and volunteers have shaped much of Corey’s experience. “At first, I was very intimidated by the staff and volunteers because they were so different from my social circle. But it was so easy to talk to them and they treated students as equals. When you are treated as an equal by someone in a position of power, it becomes really easy to respect them.”
The family-like support system, resources, and opportunities provided to CatRock students evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The virtual programming, the weekly Zoom call, gardening and exercise workshops were such an important outlet for many in our CatRock community who were experiencing a difficult time. Craig even sent us [Back to the Roots] mushroom grow kits which we grew together as a community virtually.”
Outdoor adventure activities hooked Corey in the beginning. But the relationships and growth opportunities provided through CatRock’s programming helped him discover his desire to pay it forward as an educator and in the community.