Two new pilot programs were planned and developed in 2022 for a 2023 launch.  The Northstar Project offers mental health support and care management for struggling youth, while the Academic Coaching Program will offer bi-weekly coaching and regular check-ins.   

“Many kids are struggling, especially in the wake of COVID.  They are struggling to find a sense of community again.  Mental health and academic support are not always accessible, especially to low income families in New Jersey.  We want to build a program that uplifts these families, and offers an extra layer of support,” explains Vanessa, who will lead both programs. 

Vanessa studied communications at Rutgers University and recently completed a Master of Social Work at NYU.  Vanessa started at Team Wilderness as a Junior Field Instructor before earning the position of Principal Counselor. 

The basis for both programs has emerged in established Team Wilderness programs.  While working with the Summer Treks program as an instructor, Vanessa observed that participants naturally began to open up and share more than they would necessarily in a classroom or typical counseling setting.  Combining additional, formal support systems with the already beneficial effects of nature was a logical next step. 

“Our goal is for youth in the program to feel supported by Team wilderness in a way that assists them in learning how to tackle any mental health themes that come up such as family, relationships, identity or academic based topics.  When they are out in nature or on hikes, kids are tapping into really powerful qualities and characteristics.  For example, going up a mountain and completing a hike is really in a sense overcoming a challenge.   We want to encourage kids to use those same qualities and characteristics they discover in themselves in their daily lives,” Vanessa explains. 

Growing up in New Jersey as a first-generation college student in a Spanish speaking, immigrant household, Vanessa strongly identifies with the demographic of youth that participate in Team Wilderness programs, and has always recognized the effects of nature on mental health.

 “Growing up, I was outdoors a lot.  When I went through challenges,  the outdoors was a safe haven.  Having a place where I could go and sit and just be surrounded by trees was healing for me.  I always knew I wanted to try to find a way to merge [counseling and nature] together, “ Vanessa says.  

Thanks to the generosity of donor and grantor support, the new programs will be a vital resource for local youth.  

“Donor support is allowing us to better support the youth that we serve,  not only by bringing them to the outdoors, but also by helping us guide them in developing a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally,” Vanessa explains. 

“That goes beyond just their involvement with Team Wilderness. The kids will take the lessons that they learned with us and be able to use those skills for the rest of their lives.  We hope that they will build on what they learn in the program and share their appreciation for the outdoors with others too.”