The Lasting Impact of YMCA BOLD & GOLD: Karina’s Story

Karina, now a freshman at the University of Washington, has participated in four Boys & Girls Outdoor Leaders (BOLD & GOLD) trips and will return this summer as a Leader in Training. Over the years, the program has shaped her confidence, helped her reconnect after difficult seasons, and shown her what it means to belong. In this reflection, Karina shares how each trip left her with more than memories — it left her with a story of growth.

People are always asking me if I have hair ties. I usually laugh and say, “I’m sorry, I don’t have any hair ties.” Then they look a little confused, and I realize they mean the bands on my wrist. These aren’t hair ties. They’re my courage cords from BOLD & GOLD. I got one on each trip, and each one tells a story. 

The red one is the most worn of them all. It’s from my first trip, and it helped me get over some of the social anxiety I was carrying after the COVID quarantine. On that trip, I also learned that I really like swimming.

The second cord came after a pretty rough school year. That trip gave me the chance to rest, recharge, and head into the next year with more confidence. 

The green one reminds me that I’m actually really good at setting up bear hangs. I was the one tossing the rope over the branch again and again, probably the most persistent person in my group. I kept at it all day. It felt good to have a role and to know that I mattered to the group. People say a lot that “you are important, or you matter.” And hearing those words is important. But actually experiencing that feeling, and knowing it in your heart, is something different. I think the backcountry is a really powerful place for that, because everyone is working together toward a shared goal. 

The light green cord is from my most recent trip, which was a two-week trip and the best one of all. We crossed swaying bridges, battled mosquitoes, I cleaned out a really stinky old jam jar, and at one point someone lost their hiking boots and we never found out what happened to them. We even watched the sky turn alien from smoke drifting in from a nearby forest fire.

You might hear those things and wonder how I can say that trip was so great. Some of that sounds terrible. And yes, I could talk all day about the fun parts too. But what made the trip so meaningful was that every challenge helped us grow. We grew as people, and we grew closer together as a group. We started out as strangers. Some of us lived across the U.S., and one person was from the other side of the world. But we came together because of our shared love of fun and nature, and by the end of the trip, we had become real friends.

I think every kid should have the chance to go on a trip like this — to learn more about themselves, to grow, and to discover what they’re capable of. And every person who supports BOLD & GOLD helps make that possible.

Written by Karina A.

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