Our Work
CultureSeed offers youth free and ongoing outdoor immersion and mental health programs through high school and beyond. Youth meet regularly for outings, overnights, peer circles, and summer outdoor adventure trips. Youth are also connected to a support network of multiple caring adults, peers, and community organizations. CultureSeed believes that in a world where we increasingly live our lives indoors, nature is not just a place to recreate, but a social determinant of health.
Outdoor Experiences
& Immersions
CultureSeed fosters inclusive access to the outdoors for youth who would otherwise experience barriers to such access. We provide a variety of outdoor experiences such as hikes, camps, river and snow adventures.
Peer
Circles
CultureSeed's Peer Circles meet regularly with caring adult facilitators to build relationships with staff and each other. Peer Circles are CultureSeed’s main anchor for youth. Each group experiences monthly outings together, and seasonal outings with all other CultureSeed Peer Circles.
Junior
Guides
Open to all CultureSeed high school juniors or seniors with previous CultureSeed experience, Junior Guide training is a paid opportunity for youth to be exposed to a wide range of outdoor activities and outdoor leadership training. Junior Guides are also paid to facilitate summer adventure trips.
While CultureSeed is not a behavioral health organization, all our programs address issues of rural isolation, loneliness and offer a space to connect with peers and other adults as a protective factor to support better mental health. We believe that youth should have the opportunity to participate in easily accessible, affordable or free mental health care. Our connections with local providers allows youth involved in the CultureSeed to make referrals to therapy services free of charge in partnership with ESD 112.
“CultureSeed taught me so much about myself. I learned how to be a lot stronger and to believe in myself.”