Teens Learn Life Lessons in the Wilderness With Colorado Charity

Big City Mountaineers is a Denver, Colorado-based charity that teaches underprivileged teens critical life skills through one-day or weeklong programs. Important lessons such as planning and decision making, effective communication, and peaceful conflict resolution are taught in the world's largest classroom – nature. 

Serving urban youth from mostly impoverished households, Big City Mountaineers offers weeklong wilderness trips where teens experience a development program under the guidance of volunteer mentors. With nearly 1,000 participants every year, Big City Mountaineers boasts of a proven track record of helping young people stay in school and quit drug use. In addition to gaining outdoor skills, teens develop a sense of responsibility, self-esteem, and resiliency.

Big City Mountaineers also organizes the Summit for Someone event to raise money for its young beneficiaries. The annual fundraiser invites climbers to take on North America's most challenging peaks, including Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, and Gannett Peak. In 2011, Summit for Someone climbers helped provide 37 weeklong outdoor expeditions in Colorado, California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Boundary Waters.