CAPC Intro

It’s week three of Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when we pause to appreciate all of the people who come together to support and encourage children, youth and families. Everyone has a role to play in making sure that our community is a great place for children and youth to thrive. Parenting can be hard, and parents must be flexible and strong to meet the needs of their families when challenges arise. Stress can make it harder to be a patient and supportive parent. This week’s stress-busting strategy is Experiencing Nature - just in time for Earth Day! Time in nature can be as simple as stepping outside for a breath of fresh air and the feeling of sunshine on your face, or it can be a full day of exploring the great outdoors and seeing the world through the eyes of a child. Wilderness Youth Project connects children and families to the natural world.

"The mission of Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) is to foster confidence, health, and a lifelong love of learning for young people and families through active outdoor experiences and mentoring."

Wilderness Youth Project Intro and Programs

Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) has been a strong community presence for the last 25 years, providing children with the opportunity to explore the outdoors and connect with other peers in a safe and freeing environment. WYP started out in the late 90s when Warren Brush and Cynthia Harvan decided to provide children from Transition House with opportunities to experience the natural world of Santa Barbara. They noticed a strong affinity from the kids toward these adventures that inspired Warren and Cindy to dream of a program that fulfilled these needs for all kids. Wilderness Youth Project has now evolved and expanded into a multifaceted organization, providing kids with preschool and after-school programs, summer camps, and low-income community programs.

These programs are simple and low cost methods of connecting with kids and providing benefits that span the spectrum of physical, mental, social and emotional health. The Bridge to Nature subsidized program provides low income youth and families with the opportunity to take part in socializing activities at little to no cost. The science around spending time in nature and moving your body is unparalleled, with children being able to explore their imaginations and increase their curiosity of the world around them on their own terms.

Wilderness Youth Project was established before the landmark study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) showed the connection between childhood experiences and lifelong health, yet WYP staff have always known that time in nature is good for kids. A new appreciation of ACEs science and trauma-informed care have given the WYP team a different perspective on the work they do, shaping their core values and their resolve to share what they know. As WYP evolved and grew, they started to look at the community they were serving, and to think about how they might provide better access to services and reach more kids. This brought on the advent of the Bridge to Nature Program (learn more here), partnering with schools to take transportation issues out of the equation, and eventually leading to the Buffering Service grant and Network of Care collaboration.

Success Story

WYP has many success stories throughout its programs, but one that stood out for Andrew Lindsey (Director of School Based Program & Lead Program Staff), was a recent trip to the beach. Nature provided a great day of sun and big surf for the kids to explore and interact with this new environment. One of the kids in particular spent his day wandering the beach, picking up massive drift wood logs, carrying them for some time, then slamming them down on the sand while releasing a primal yell. While parents and teachers may see this behavior as disruptive and something to deter the child from doing, WYP staff understood the value in allowing this child to express himself in his own way and take part in this emotionally regulating behavior. Andrew compared this instance with adults needing their own moment of release after a difficult day, maybe that’s taking a moment to scream in your car or work out your emotions at the gym, regardless everyone no matter what age needs an emotional outlet. This child found a creative way to let go of his pent up emotions using elements of nature, also becoming a metaphor for empowerment as this child was able to be in charge of what log he was picking up and when he wanted to put it down. Children are rarely given responsibilities or placed in situations where they have the power and control, so providing a free space with supervision allows children to exercise their freedom and build confidence in themselves.

The programs provided by Wilderness Youth Project are strengthening our community through improving children's mental well being, promoting social skills, and encouraging imagination and curiosity. This buffering service provides youth with the tools and experiences they need to balance the negative effects of the adversities they may experience within their daily lives.

Resilient Santa Barbara County is excited to see what’s in store for WYP and its continued collaboration with the Network of Care. Along with the direct funding support, Andrew is also thrilled about the opportunities for advocacy that have emerged through joining this partnership. Connecting with other professionals will allow WYP to continue the ACEs dialogue and to explore how time in nature can be incorporated into other programs and initiatives. Wilderness Youth Project programs are not the only way to bring kids outside into nature. Perhaps with some basic training or support, other mentors, such as counselors, youth clubs and family service providers can also serve children outside.

Tips on bringing kids into nature:

• Use less dominant sense - smell, hearing, touch
• Appreciate and honor kids questions and curiosity without feeling the need to answer them - share some questions or wonders of your own
• Move at the pace of the child

Outdoor activities for kids:

• Go on walks and describe how seasons change
• Visit the beach and search for shells
• Encourage outdoor sports: soccer, bike riding, hiking etc
• Have an outdoor picnic - don’t bring phones or screens, instead encourage enjoying the surrounding environment (listen to the wind and birds, feel the grass, watch the clouds go by)

To learn more about Wilderness Youth Project and the programs they provide, click here to access their website.

To get more daily tips for strengthening resilience and spending time in nature, please check out CAPC’s Facebook page.