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"I see stars out here." - Sean, Camping to Connect Participant

Your investment directly provides more young men of color the opportunity to spend time away from the city and see the stars.

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.

Closing the “Nature Gap”

For young people, growing up without regular exposure to nature has ripple effects that persist into adulthood. We know that positive group experiences outdoors reduce stress, improve our physical health, and lead to better education outcomes.

Camping to Connect takes young men of color from the city on fully immersive nature excursions. Outdoor education, in combination with mentorship by men who look like them — our trip leaders are also all men of color — allows us to address the diverse issues faced by young men of color, in terms they can understand.

We need your help.

We have set some lofty goals for 2024:

  • Expand Our Reach: Offer our programs and services to 400+ BIPOC youth in New York City and Denver, CO.

  • Continued Connection: Provide stipends and part-time opportunities to Camping to Connect alumni, as well as summer youth interns and facilitators.

  • Bring in the Best: Expand our part-time staff to 10+ members and upgrade training and development.

  • Provide for Our Own: Cover key operations costs, such as insurance, transportation, meals, gear, storage, etc.

  • Shatter Milestones: Exceed 3,000+ miles collectively hiked, and 500+ s’mores collectively enjoyed.

To accomplish this, we are seeking to raise $400,000 USD by the end of 2024.

Please consider supporting us however you can.

Checks and money orders can be made payable to Young Masterminds Initiative, and mailed to:

Young Masterminds Initiative, Inc

137 Montague Street, Ste 185, Brooklyn, NY, 11201

or

2851 S. Parker Road, Ste 1060, Aurora, CO 80014