July eNews: We’re better together
Dear Friends,
We’re reminded every day of the importance of working toward socially just and equitable spaces. As our community continues fighting to disrupt structural barriers and historical inequities, YES remains a safe space where youth and families connect to the natural world around them and, in turn, find belonging in a space where they can truly be themselves.
Built upon this foundation of belonging is a uniquely fulfilling sense of community–one that is built around uninhibited acceptance, trust, and learning. It’s a feeling that permeates all of YES’s spaces, from residential camps and backpacking trips to workshops and events, and one that each individual is affected by in a personal way. Below, we share how the bond of comfort and community manifested at this spring’s Family Camps, while a young adult from our new TREES program shares the importance of being supported by her community of peers.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be supporting 200 youth discovering community and belonging by way of Summer Camp, nearly 60 of whom will be experiencing camp for the first time. And to do this, we need your help! Through the end of the month, you can donate to our Summer Campfire Campaign and help us reach our goal of $40,000 to ensure that historical barriers and economic circumstances don’t stand in the way of any child’s opportunity to experience the transformative power of camp. And thanks to a generous donor, the first $10,000 raised will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your gifts!
In community,
Eric Aaholm, Executive Director
YES Community Highlight: Auriel Hill-Banks
A first-year transfer student at UC Berkeley in 2021, Auriel was searching for community activism opportunities to provide balance and inspiration alongside the academic rigor, but what she found in the TREES program turned out to be so much more.
The Teaching Racial Environmental Empowerment Series, formerly the Young Adult Program, is designed to educate adults ages 18-26 about the historical and current impact of substance use and the war on drugs in our communities, as well as healthy alternatives to substance-based coping mechanisms. Having seen friends, family, and community members impacted by oppressive systems and substance use, TREES's mission spoke to Auriel.
“It’s not easy, our work is not easy,” Auriel says of the journey she and her group members embarked on, “there’s a lot of learning that we’re doing and a lot of effort going into it.” Referring to the process as a learning journey, Auriel is grateful the program, and their leader, Young Adult Program Coordinator Michelle Nguyen, has built community and provided support for each member to define their own process, accounting for individual experience and history. Reflecting on the community and friendship that grew within the program, Auriel says “when we come here, we can release, we can get support. Each person knows they are important and valuable to the group.”
“I feel more liberated to be myself, to show up even on a bad day, to not be perfect, and to just take a step back and support others.”
Even though this TREES session has just wrapped, Auriel’s learning journey is far from over. She's eager to bring the material and skills the group has gained this year into their public advocacy work when the program restarts in August. Additionally, Auriel is looking forward to applying all she's learned about teamwork and community in her final year at UC Berkeley, where she's designing programs aimed at helping other transfer students thrive, while also utilizing her studies to promote body image healing, diversity in media and fashion, and expanding body-affirming and equitable health access for black women.
Family Camp
For over twenty years, YES has been bringing Richmond families together outdoors, and there’s no better encapsulation of our mission and vision than Family Camp.
This Spring, 131 West County residents ranging from 4 to 85 years old left their homes and technology behind to join us at YMCA Camp Loma Mar for a weekend of adventure and togetherness. Between slingshot paintball, creek exploration, hikes around camp, ziplining, and music lessons, campers leaned into new experiences and new connections.
"YES made it possible for everyone to participate in such a beautiful way. Everything was my favorite! You cannot put a number on the bonds created in this space. Truly an invaluable experience."
In addition to veteran camp-goers' favorite activities, like the zipline and gaga ball, families enjoyed the fruits of the recent rain by way of the rushing creek, lush flora, and visits from banana slugs. But the local ecosystem wasn’t the only thing to learn from at camp. Young people from YES’s TREES program gave an impassioned lesson about discriminatory drug policies and the effects of early cannabis usage on underdeveloped brains–a topic the program will continue diving into with their third group of young people starting this August.
Cautiously coming closer together after so much time spent at a distance, families left Camp Loma Mar feeling safe, replenished, and more connected to one another and their community. And we left Camp Loma Mar reminded of the fact that we have the best jobs in the world.
Parks We Love: Point Reyes National Seashore
Just a short drive across the bridge from Richmond, Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) has hosted countless moments of revelation, relaxation, joy, and discovery for YES’s youth members over the years. Just last month, teens from the C2C and C3 teams took to the park’s rugged side on a four-night backpacking trip, covering more than 25 miles of the park's rich hiking trails.
The Coastal Miwoks are the original stewards of what we now know as PRNS, making use of the area’s varied seasons and foliage to cultivate rich and thriving communities. Thanks to the tribes’ expert care, much of the park’s native landscape and wildlife is accessible to us today.
Fun Fact: Nearly 500 species of birds have been spotted at PRNS. That's almost half of all North American species!
Whether you’re a history buff looking to explore early maritime technology; an avid hiker looking for challenging trails; a Bay Area tourist wanting the picturesque California beaches and bluffs; a family trying to keep kids occupied during the summer; or a group of teens learning to stretch your boundaries and immerse yourself in one-of-a-kind natural spaces, PRNS is the perfect getaway.
