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Girls Outdoor Leadership Development (GOLD)
Our programs are for adventurous young women ages 10–18. Amidst the beauty of nature or in the climbing gym, we work together to develop leadership skills, have fun, and dare to do new things. Our 6–22 day summer experiences include backpacking, rock climbing, art, camp, BMX biking, and yoga – all with time to hang out and make great friends. You don’t need equipment, but you should possess a desire to try new things yourself and challenge yourself in body, mind, and spirit. Our school year programs combine climbing and cool group exercises. Experience the rush of GOLD! Passages Northwest
Passages Northwest is dedicated to inspiring courage and leadership in girls and women through the integrated exploration of the arts and the natural environment. COURAGE is the operative word at Passages Northwest: COURAGE to do, COURAGE to create, COURAGE to ask. Our goal is to help unearth the impressive physical, creative, and inquisitive courage they already possess. Physical courage is revealed while pushing that last mile on the trail, kayaking on tranquil waters, or while suspended on a rock wall, reaching for that last hold that seems just out of reach. Creative courage is discovered telling stories around the campfire, writing poetry and creating a nature-based art project. Inquisitive courage is woven in every moment on the adventure, while investigating trees, flowers, wildlife, and asking questions of why and how. Passages Northwest programs are about facing reasonable challenges, discovering talents and unleashing abilities.
Girls Rock!
Now in its 15th year, Girls Rock! is a 10-week after school mentoring program in which middle school girl participants (ages 11-14) build a diverse, supportive community through leadership, service and rock climbing. The program runs for 10 weeks in the spring and 10 weeks in the fall. Participants are paired 1 on 1 with an adult female mentor and together build a positive relationship, using climbing as a metaphor and vehicle to inspire courage and leadership. Session begins with a low ropes course designed to establish community and introduce girls and mentors. In the following weeks, girls meet with their mentors after school at Seattle Vertical World to learn basic climbing skills. A meaningful element of the program is the Courage Project, focused on art, service and leadership. The group also goes on an overnight weekend camping and climbing trip. The session finale is an empowering graduation celebration where students present what they have learned and teach family and friends to climb. Girls Rock! began in 1997 as part of the independent non-profit Passages Northwest, which has since merged to become part of the Metrocenter YMCA of Greater Seattle. Our spring session starts in the beginning of February and the fall session starts in early September.
"I would recommend Girls Rock! to my friends because it helped me with self confidence over time and its super, super FUN."
"I learned that I'm stronger than I thought and I'm overcoming my fear of heights."
Spring 2011 Alum
Girls LEAD (Lead, Empower, Adventure, Discover)
Girls LEAD, formerly known as PCAL (Patsy Collins Adventure in Leader) is a residential camp program that helps middle school girls develop to their fullest potential through dynamic and interactive leadership, service and wellness activities. During their stay, girls participate in workshops, service learning projects and group building opportunities that are lead by female counselors with extensive training and experience in YMCA youth development. Girls LEAD also invites inspiring women from a variety of professional backgrounds to serve as guest speakers, sharing their wisdom and exposing Girls LEAD campers to a wide variety of professions.
"I'll always remember how encouraging everyone was, and how many laughs that I had. There were so many times when I would laugh and have so much fun that my stomach would start hurting. PCAL was a great experience for me and
I'll always have the skills that they taught me for when I go out to change the world."
Maya, PCAL Alumna |
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BOLD Mountain School (Boys Outdoor Leadership Development)
What is BOLD?
Boys Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) is an outdoor education program of the Metrocenter YMCA that develops multi-cultural leadership skills in young men through wilderness experience. Our 5 to 16 day backpacking, rock climbing, and mountaineering expeditions provide an opportunity for young men from different economic, ethnic, religious and social backgrounds to build multi-cultural leadership, communication, and decision making skills through shared challenges, problem solving, and fun. We believe that BOLD addresses a need in our community for:
· Emotionally intelligent programming for boys.
· An authentic and celebrated rite of passage event from adolescence to man hood.
· An emotionally and physically safe place where boys from different backgrounds can gather.
· Opportunities to develop the multi-cultural leadership and communication skills needed to be
successful in an increasingly globalized world.
· A place where boys can find glory, be of service, be allies to others and feel needed.
· Affordable Outdoor Education.
The BOLD Vision: To create a world where young men have the emotional intelligence, courage, and compassion to be positive multi-cultural leaders in their communities.
The BOLD Mission: To use wilderness experience and challenge to create emotionally and physically safe spaces where boys from different backgrounds can communicate and develop to their fullest leadership potential.
This year BOLD is offering 12 expeditions ranging from 5 day introductory backpacking trips for middle school boys to a 16 day glacier mountaineering expedition to climb Mt. Olympus. For more information about our specific expeditions please click here.
The success and growth of BOLD is due to the hard work of our exceptional staff. Each expedition has 3 instructors and 9 students. On each instructor team there is one professional wilderness guide who is certified as a wilderness first responder and has at least five years of experience leading back country expeditions and managing physical risks, one facilitator who has significant experience as a youth worker and educator, and one community volunteer or elder who has a unique gift, wisdom, or skill to bring to the expedition team. In addition, BOLD is committed to, and has succeeded in having an instructor team that directly reflects the demographics of the students we serve. Our expeditions are exceptional and that is a direct result of the great skill, experience, diversity, and dedication of our exceptional staff.
For more information and to register click here.
"My favorite part of the trip was being able to climb to the very summit of the mountain and look down onto the clouds. At that moment I knew I was capable of amazing things. If I could climb above the clouds, I could do anything."
Zand, BOLD Alum
"I really realized on that trip that I can choose to be however I want to be - that I take can control of my self and lead others in the process .”
Crisantos, BOLD Apprentice |
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YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC)
Who We Are
Founded in 1989, the YESC is an innovative youth-led program that empowers students to take a hands-on role in creating a healthier environment in their schools., communities and region while nurturing a respect for diversity within the natural world.
Young people in Earth Service Corps are recognized as valuable resources who collaborate with peers, teachers and community members to solve pressing environmental issues in their communities.
Learn By Doing
YESC works with students and teacher advisors to provide a unique opportunity for students to identify local envrironmental issues while working collaboratively to engage participants in community action.
Joining YESC will expose students to the world of science, social justice and environmental studies through opportunities for environmental education and action, leadership development, and cross-cultural awareness.
YESC members initiate and implement projects that develop leaders, inspire individuals, and highlight the importance of sustaining our planet.
Join us and challenge your leadership skills, develop compassion for others, foster a respect for the evnironment, and TAKE ACTION within your community to create a healthy planet!
For more information: yesc@seattleymca.org.
“YESC provided me with a purpose in life that I carried through college. It instilled a fervent passion to protect nature that fueled my drive to pursue Environmental Science.”
Tina, YESC Alumna |
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Developing leadership, global awareness, cultural competency and connections for youth and adults.
Global Teens
Ever wonder what life is like for teens in another country? What are their challenges and hopes? As a Global Teen you will make new friends both at home and abroad, explore other cultures, build bridges and make a difference through service. You might work with the disabled in Korea, help with a summer camp in Colombia, discuss social issues with teens in Senegal or provide disaster relief in Japan. Your program starts in February with fundraising, language and cultural training and ends in the fall, when you will share your experience with the community through art, video, poetry or presentations. You will meet teens from different schools in the greater Seattle area and gain valuable leadership and cross-cultural communication skills.
Global Service
Every year we offer service learning opportunities for anyone 19 and over wanting to make a difference in another country. Your project will be arranged and hosted by one of our local Ys. Service learning trips have gone to Thailand, Colombia, Vietnam, and Guatemala. Opportunities to work at Ys abroad for 3-6 months can also arranged on an individual basis.
Global Languages
Summer Intensive Japanese Language Study for high school students plus year round programs for college students are some of the new offerings this year made possible by our 45 year old partnership with the YMCA of Kobe, Japan. Programs include intensive language study, culture and home stays, where you can totally immerse yourself in another culture!
Global Connections
Whether providing home stays, teaching language and culture, serving on an international committee, or joining our annual Growing Global Connections Celebration, the Y offers many opportunities to grow global connections with Ys in over 125 countries in the world.
Questions?
"The coolest part of the trip for me was the home stay. I am still completely blown away that in a place so far away, the families can have the same kind of connection I have right here at home.”
Justin, Japan Trip
"The highlight of the trip for me was watching the tea ceremony because we had the chance to see something that has been done for thousands of years in Japan."
Cassandra, Japan Trip |
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