Summary
Organization name
New Treks
Tax id (EIN)
02-0511096
Category
Youth Development
Address
621 Kalamath Street, Suite 62Denver, CO 80204
Jefferson County, CO, US
Denver, CO, US
About
Testimonials
Despite Denver's proximity to natural spaces, many youth haven't explored the outdoors. Underserved youth face many barriers, such as time, money, transportation, gear, and knowledge, making it nearly impossible to recreate outside. At New Treks, we believe that everyone should have equitable access to the outdoors and strives to lower these barriers. We want to increase and normalize access so underserved youth get to experience all the outdoors has to offer.
Our primary program is an outdoor elective course at Title 1 schools. Through hands-on learning, mini fieldtrips, and in-class learning, our students learn about rock climbing, backpacking, paddling, survival skills, and more. By being in the classroom consistently, we build strong relationships with our students. This allows them to feel more comfortable trying new things, helps them build trust, and creates a safe space for them to get out of their comfort zone! We incorporate social-emotional learning so that they also gain transferable skills they can use in other parts of their life. Our students are able to build resiliency, practice different communication styles, and learn how to work as a team through various outdoor activities.
Over the summer, we partner with transitional housing facilities to provide outdoor programming for their families and youth. We like to work with families to promote trans-generational learning. Including parents and guardians of the youth we serve increases the chances of future outdoor excursions happening beyond our programming! We want to give families the tools to safely explore the outdoors so youth are able to continue getting outside after our programs have ended. We take the families paddling, hiking, rock climbing and more in and around Denver so they get to see how many local natural spaces there are.
Last year was our first year of operation and we more than doubled in programming for our second year. We are excited to continue growing and are grateful for your help and support! You are making a difference in the lives' of many underserved youth.
Mission
To create a new generation of outdoor stewards by teaching and normalizing outdoor spaces, while increasing access in underserved and marginalized communities.
To normalize the outdoors in marginalized communities by meeting our youth where they are most comfortable, in their schools. Consistency, time, and relationship building is key in creating a new generation of stewards while removing the barriers of time, cost, transportation, equipment, and knowledge.
To see a healthy and more diverse outdoor community in which outdoor education, recreation, and career pathways are within reach, creating a lasting equitable future.
Background Statement
New Treks was founded in 2021 by Andy Hartman who recognized the need of offering equitable alternatives to education and access to the outdoors. The goal of New Treks is to work with marginalized youth to give them the alternative education and experiences we all deserves.
During the school year we teach classes in Title 1 schools and schools that serve underserved youth grades K-12. Our classes range from the environmental sciences to adventure recreation in which our students earn credit. We meet the schools needs for credit and have had students earn environmental science, earth science, elective, PE, and more in credit for school.
During the summer and holiday breaks we work with youth service organizations. These range from transitional housing to behavioral health centers. We provide half day to full day activities or a learning progression style in adventure recreation. We also work with a local ski mountain to offer winter sport lessons with our instructors at a reduced cost.
We Educate!
By meeting our youth where they are at, both physically and emotionally, we can give them the knowledge and training in a familiar setting.
We Recreate!
Taking our youth on full day trips helps promote resiliency and solidifies the in-class lessons into practical application.
We Create!
Through paid internship opportunities our youth are able to gain entry level job experience and certifications to pursue many outdoor careers.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Denver, CO 80204