“Do you think lizards can be friends?” It was a gray Tuesday afternoon when 9-year-old Lila first arrived at Wilderness Youth Project thanks to a scholarship from someone like you. Her shoulders were slumped beneath the weight of her oversized backpack, her eyes fixed on the screen of a hand-me-down iPhone clutched tightly in her
Discover the Magic of Wilderness Youth Project: Share Your Voice! “Every child should have the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization. WYP has been a saving grace in these difficult times, a place where the kids can still be kids, exploring nature and pushing their own boundaries in a safe way.”
Discover the Magic of Wilderness Youth Project: Share Your Voice! Read More »
Breaking Down Barriers to Summer Fun and Learning Some of the barriers parents encounter when signing up their child to an outdoor program are costs and transportation. What’s the price? And “it’s difficult to take my child because of work” is what we hear the most from parents. Wilderness Youth Project bridges that gap by
Explore the Coast The Coastal Conservancy funds Bridge to Nature “California’s ocean, coast, and beaches are spaces of joy, relaxation, and healing. The ability to experience the coast without fear of financial cost, physical barriers or feelings of not belonging, is crucial to how people cultivate their own lifelong connections with the coast.” -The State
Spotlight: The Sea League’s Sea Lion Camp 2023 By: Rachel Zook-Brimer + Erika Lindemann The Sea League (TSL) is a fiscally sponsored program of Wilderness Youth Project. TSL Sea Lion Camp June 26-30, 2023 Long days soaking wet, with salty hair in the fresh air. A day hanging over the bow of a big boat
Adelante & McKinley Youth Campout at Quail Springs Permaculture Water in the desert, goat walks, sleeping under the stars: camping helps young people release stress, experience happiness, and feel more alive. Each May, WIlderness Youth Project invites youth participating in our Bridge to Nature subsidized programs to join a camping trip. This year, we combined
Adelante & McKinley Youth Campout at Quail Springs Permaculture Read More »
The Heart of WYP: A Community Zine Read Zine Now Dear WYP Community, At Wilderness Youth Project, we encourage gratitude in every facet of our work, whether it’s in a circle of kids on program or in our staff meetings. Giving thanks has become as natural to us as the rocky sandstone of the Santa
Building a Bridge to Nature A Hesitant Participant His first time coming to program, Mateo* stood stiffly and quietly beneath the blossom tree in front of the El Centro community center, a partner in WYP’s Bridge to Nature program. Sky blue eyes turned down to the leaf-covered grass, he looked like he wanted to be
Jason the Treefrog By: Julia Barerra, WYP Intern Every Tuesday, the Treefrogs come out to play in Santa Barbara. Not real tree frogs, but the WYP kind, inquisitive and rambunctious K-2nd graders ready to take on the American Riviera. Departing from the beautiful Rose Garden, they traverse the canyons, mountains, and beaches of Goleta, eager
Register NowSchedules & Current Availability All about how program registration works Two values that inform our registration: All children need nature. And yet many kids lack access to the outdoors. That’s why WYP connects kids from all backgrounds to Santa Barbara’s natural beauty. Our goal is to mirror the demographics* of our service area from
Everything you ever wanted to know about how registration works at WYP Read More »
