Our History
YES was founded on the belief that positive experiences in nature are a catalyst for individual and community transformation.
YES was established by Diane Mintz in 1999 as a means to provide enrichment opportunities for young people in Richmond who had limited access to the outdoors.
With the vital support of our partners, volunteers, and funders, and the essential guidance of our participant community, YES has grown and evolved. We now provide Richmond youth and families with profound experiences in the outdoors, and support them to sustain the benefits of their time in nature.
In 2015, YES aligned our programs within a Leadership Pathways model designed to increase opportunities for Richmond youth and adults to connect to the outdoors and receive year-round leadership training and support.
Today, YES’s model includes a Youth Leadership and an Adult Leadership Pathway, which move participants along a continuum of development to become successful community leaders, health advocates, and change-makers.
Our culturally relevant programs increase access and break down the barriers for those historically excluded from the outdoors. We deepen people’s relationships with nature, themselves, their families, and their community.
We now engage more than 500 participants annually with year-round programs for youth, adults, and whole families.