Meet the Team Behind: Rocky Mountain Ascent

Rocky Mountain Ascent provides free outdoor recreation activities to underserved children and families in Colorado, increasing accessibility to fun experiences and helping kids learn about nature. Read more about their work here!

Who are the kids you work with? 

This year, we’ve worked with 150 children, including kids in foster care, homeless shelters, and other underserved communities. We welcome kids of all ages and their guardians, and we collaborate with organizations like foster care agencies, youth shelters, family shelters, and residential care facilities to find youth and families who are a good fit for our programs. We started in response to a growing need for positive adult mentorship for youth in the foster care system, and have worked with hundreds of kids since. 

What kind of activities do you offer?

Outdoor adventure is at the heart of our mission, and our visitors have the opportunity to participate in whatever activities they choose. We offer weekend retreats, month-long internships, or day trips for kids and families. Our site is 118 acres of land in Victor, CO and includes 15 cabins, tons of campsites, a ropes course, kayaks, canoes, mountain bikes, a woodworking shop, and much more. You can learn archery, practice yoga, fly on the zipline, go hiking, paddle board in the pond, and make s’mores around the campfire. 

What work do you do outside of nature activities? 

We encourage youth toward self-actualization through positive adult mentorship, life skills development, and self-challenge. We’re committed to nurturing a sense of value and purpose in each individual, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones with new activities that lead to growth. Visitors learn about wellness, mindfulness, and how to use nature and adventure as a source of healing. We hope that all people who leave Rocky Mountain Ascent recognize their value and feel connected to nature and a new community of people. 

How can individuals get involved in your work? 

If you live within driving distance of our site, we’d love for people to join our team on weekends they are available to assist with our retreats. We also offer a work exchange, where people live on-site with our crew and work 25 hours a week in exchange for housing, food, and access to our nature activities. Work exchange participants can help with hospitality support, beautification projects, or being an adventure guide. You can also support our mission to empower underserved youth by donating on our website.