Parks Foundation helps secure funding for innovative youth excursions:
YES Coast, YES River and YES Mountain
Sonoma County Regional Parks launched the YES! (Youth Exploring Sonoma) programs in 2017 with YES! Coast. The program was ambitious, with complex logistics, enthusiastic, high energy participants, and a broad curriculum — and its first year was a resounding success! Serving 125 youth from the cities and suburban neighborhoods of central and east Sonoma County, YES! Coast facilitated the first ever visit to the California coast for the majority of the participating teens. YES! River and YES! Mountains followed.
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YES! programs engage young people in a meaningful way over a series of weeks or even months. The programs share the same common aims:
YES! programs remove barriers to participation by providing transportation, food for excursions, and stipends for participation. Through these programs, under-resourced youth ages 13-17 experience enhanced mental health, explore environmental careers, develop skills in outdoor recreation, and connect to next-step leadership opportunities. YES! Coast and YES! Mountains take place once a month throughout the academic year, while YES! River is held along the Russian River over the course of six weeks in the summer. During these programs, teens participate in activities such as hiking, camping, horseback riding, kayaking, a ropes course, creating first aid kits, and getting first aid certified. Additionally, they develop and implement a youth-driven stewardship project. Teens also meet with professionals, including community leaders working to protect our environment. |
Statement of Need for Teen Programs
In January of 2021, the nonprofit YouthTruth[1] administered surveys across 56 Sonoma County schools, collecting input from 18,000 students on academics and mental health. This survey revealed that our teens are struggling. Only 37% of teens agreed that they feel like part of their community, while 23% said that they have felt sad often in the past week. Almost half reported they have experienced prolonged sadness.
We also know teens in certain areas of the county face even greater challenges. Teens in communities such as Southwest Santa Rosa; river communities such as Guerneville, Monte Rio and Rio Nido; areas of Rohnert Park and Cotati and The Springs section of Sonoma Valley are at greater risk for health disparities and educational deficiencies. Research shows that time outdoors delivers numerous health benefits, including reduced cortisol levels, improved mental health, lower blood pressure and more.
In January of 2021, the nonprofit YouthTruth[1] administered surveys across 56 Sonoma County schools, collecting input from 18,000 students on academics and mental health. This survey revealed that our teens are struggling. Only 37% of teens agreed that they feel like part of their community, while 23% said that they have felt sad often in the past week. Almost half reported they have experienced prolonged sadness.
We also know teens in certain areas of the county face even greater challenges. Teens in communities such as Southwest Santa Rosa; river communities such as Guerneville, Monte Rio and Rio Nido; areas of Rohnert Park and Cotati and The Springs section of Sonoma Valley are at greater risk for health disparities and educational deficiencies. Research shows that time outdoors delivers numerous health benefits, including reduced cortisol levels, improved mental health, lower blood pressure and more.
Thank you to the California Coastal Conservancy for grants to help fund this vital program.
