CultureSeed’s Outdoor Immersion

CultureSeed fosters inclusive outdoor immersion by supporting increased access to the outdoors for youth who would otherwise experience barriers around such access. CultureSeed provides hikes, camps, river trips and a variety of outdoor experiences and adventures. We seek to sustain this access through ongoing outdoor programming and community partnerships—and to bolster it with a robust mental health framework. Columbia Gorge youth attend free and ongoing year-round programming, and can return for continuous years until they graduate high school.

CultureSeed recognizes that youth are increasingly disconnected from the natural world, and that physical engagement in natural settings is regarded as the single most potent health behavior we know. CultureSeed creates safe containers for youth to explore outdoor opportunities and challenges based on their unique needs and interests—for some youth this is sports activities, for others it’s making art outside.

Peer Circles are at the heart of CultureSeed’s Outdoor Immersion and Mental Health frameworks. These are small groups of 6-8 youth from the same school district, ages 13 - 19, who are recruited from their past participation in CultureSeed programming, or as recommendations from peers, school staff and community partners. They can choose between young women’s, young men’s, or queer peer groups, in which they meet regularly with caring adult facilitators to build relationships with nature, themselves, and each other.

CultureSeed youth engage the outdoors in three primary ways:

• Peer Circle Outings: youth choose at least four outdoor adventures per year. These can be as simple as hiking, picnicking at a waterfront or waterfall, or visiting a local farm or ranger station; or they can be bigger adventures like paddleboarding, canyoneering, or snowshoeing.

• All Youth Outings: opportunities for youth to meet therapists in a non-clinical setting, as well as youth from other school districts, while trying a sport that is generally heavily gear-based and often difficult to break into. Several Saturdays a year, the entirety of CultureSeed’s Outdoor Immersion cohort comes together to participate in sports-based activities like Skiing/Snowboarding on Mt. Hood, rock climbing, mountain biking, and more. These outings are made possible through the support of outdoor industry community partners who can provide pro-bono gear and instruction.

• Overnight Immersions: this is where the magic really happens! Overnight Immersions are fun-filled opportunities for building trust, solidifying bonds, and deepening connection to nature, self and others over an extended period of time. Three times each year, CultureSeed heads out for multi-day adventures such as white water rafting on the Deschutes or Lower Salmon, a visit to the North Cascades, or a regional camping trip.

One of the most important things CultureSeed can do is help young people find their way to be in service to something larger than themselves, and to feel the support of their community in the crafting of a joyful and satisfying life. Adaptability is built into our model as we respond to youth’s interests and needs. As youth move through their years with CultureSeed and learn more about who they are and what they love, CultureSeed invests in strengthening their web of resources and support, while celebrating their successes and contributions to the larger whole.