Outdoor Mentorship Experiences for Urban Youth

Fostering Leadership, Brotherhood, and Inclusion in the Outdoors

Who We Are

Camping to Connect is a experiential mentorship program that uses outdoor recreation and nature immersion to address the diverse issues faced by young men of color in America’s cities—from mental health to healthy masculinity.

We provide a safe space for meaningful conversations, connecting youth ages 13+ with nature, their peers, and dedicated mentors. Our leaders — adult men of color — reflect the backgrounds of our youth participants, fostering a vital paradigm shift in their self-perception and understanding of their place in the world.

Access to Nature

Research tells us that regular time outdoors is essential for children’s healthy development. Kids from traditionally underserved urban communities lack access to wild spaces. We believe in providing equitable access to the natural world for all.

Our goal is to change the narrative of who belongs in outdoor spaces and help these young men unlock their potential.

Our Program

Our weekend-long wilderness camping trips and day hikes are designed for young men, ages 13 and up, from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in the New York City and Denver metro areas.

Participants learn essential outdoor skills, develop emotional self-awareness, build confidence, and create lasting bonds. All activities are offered at no cost to participants.

“Children who feel a connection with the natural world are happier, healthier, and smarter.”

— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Camping to Connect is a program and dba of the Young Masterminds Initiative, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, EIN 83-1429530. Your donation is tax-deductible.

Testimonials

“I feel like being around nature my mind is more at peace.”

- Ryan V, Camping to Connect participant

“Being in this open space, with cleaner air and water by us –  it allows you to breathe differently.”

Carlos Davila, Camping to Connect Mentor

Cities We Serve

NEW YORK CITY

DENVER


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Shop Our Merch

WOOD HOOD

WINNER: Best Short Film, 2022 Banff Mountain Film Festival

Watch the trailer to Wood Hood, an award-winning documentary short film about Camping to Connect sponsored by Patagonia.

The film follows DeVaughn, a 15-year-old kid from New York City who loves skateboarding and craves a "quiet place,” on his weekend-long group camping trip with Camping to Connect.

Our Partners

Corporate and Foundation Partners

Camping to Connect’s transformative outdoor programs for urban youth would not be possible without support from partners who share our vision and values.

We thank the dedicated sponsors that support us financially and through in-kind donations. We always welcome new sponsors: join us!

 



Clif Bar

Ramble Camp

Goal Zero

Foley Hoag Foundation

James D. Kinsey Jr. Memorial Fund

Nalgene

Campworks

GSI Outdoors

Wigwam

Mountainsmith


Camping to Connect is proud to be recognized as a recommended nonprofit of 1% for the Planet under their giving pledge.

Camping to Connect is a proud partner of Rethink Outside, a campaign to challenge and transform prevailing notions around time spent in nature, and champion the benefits of time spent outdoors as a basic human right.

Our alliance with the Appalachian Mountain Club helps provide Camping to Connect with staff leadership training, outdoor equipment loans, and reduced campground fees.

As a grantee of NIKE, Inc.’s Black Community Commitment, we are thrilled to join the third year of this movement to advance equality at the local level in NYC.