Boys Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) at a glance

In 2009 BOLD is planning on serving:
110 students on 12 Mountain School expedtions.
3,000 - 5,000 students and 500+ adults on the Diversity in the Outdoors Tour.
80 YBOYS after school club members on school year outings.

In 2008 BOLD served:
58 students on 7 Mountain School expeditions (80 applications were recieved for the 60 spots available).  61% recieved financial aid.
1500+ students and adults on the Diversity in the Outdoors Tour.
60 YBOYS after school club members on school year outings.

In 2007 BOLD served:
29 students on 3 Mountain School expeditions (35 applications were recieved for the 30 spots in the program.
45 YBOYS after school club members on school year outings.

BOLD Staff at a glance:

1. 5 Employees and 5 Volunteers worked as instructors in 2008.
2. Volunteers worked over 1033 student contact hours.
3. Most expeditions had multi-generational instructor teams.
4. Average Age was 37.5 years old.
5. 60% have or are enrolled in a Master’s degree or greater.

6. Each instructor team had at least 10 years of outdoor education experience.

7. African-American - 30%
8. Asian - 10%
9. Hispanic - 10%
10. Male - 90% / Female 10%

BOLD Students at a Glance:

In 2008

1. 58 participants on 7 expeditions which represents over 100% growth from 2007
2. Age Range: Middle and High School (12-18)
3. Participants not receiving financial aid had a choice to pay a subsidized program cost or the actual real program cost. 67% of those participants chose to pay the full program fee.
4. 74% of students received financial aid ranging from 40 – 90% of the cost of attending an expedition.
5. Caucasian - 36%
6. African-American - 43%
7. Asian/Pacific Islander - 11%
8. Hispanic - 3%
9. Mixed ethnicity - 7%

In 2007

1. 29 participants on three expeditions, up from one in 2006.
2. Age Range: Middle School (12-15)
3. 55% of participants received financial assistance to attend an expedition.
4. Participants not receiving financial aid had a choice to pay a subsidized program cost or the actual real program cost. 70% of those participants chose to pay the full program fee.
5. Caucasian - 48%
6. African-American - 27.5%
7. Asian/Pacific Islander - 17.5%
8. Hispanic - 7%

What BOLD is NOT:

A wilderness therapy program.

Your typical summer camp.

The boys scouts.

A program for at-risk youth.

A program for only the very wealthy.

A religious camp.

Easy.

Boring.

What is BOLD?

Boys Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) is an outdoor education program of the Metrocenter YMCA that develops multi-cultural leadership skills in young men through wilderness experience.  Our 5 to 16 day backpacking, rock climbing, and mountaineering expeditions provide an opportunity for young men from different economic, ethnic, religious and social backgrounds to build multi-cultural leadership, communication, and decision making skills through shared challenges, problem solving, and fun.  We believe that BOLD addresses a need in our community for:

• Emotionally intelligent programming for boys.
• An authentic and celebrated rite of passage event from adolescence to man hood.
•  An emotionally and physically safe place where boys from different backgrounds can gather.
• Opportunities to develop the multi-cultural leadership and communication skills needed to be successful in an increasingly globalized world. 
• A place where boys can find glory, be of service, be allies to others and feel needed. 
• Affordable Outdoor Education.

The BOLD Vision: To create a world where young men have the emotional intelligence, courage, and compassion to be positive multi-cultural leaders in their communities.

The BOLD Mission: To use wilderness experience and challenge to create emotionally and physically safe spaces where boys from different backgrounds can communicate and develop to their fullest leadership potential.

This year BOLD is offering 12 expeditions ranging from 5 day introductory backpacking trips for middle school boys to a 16 day glacier mountaineering expedition to climb Mt. Olympus.  For more information about our specific expeditions please click here.

The success and growth of BOLD is due to the hard work of our exceptional staff. Each expedition has 3 instructors and 9 students.  On each instructor team there is one professional wilderness guide who is certified as a wilderness first responder and has at least five years of experience leading back country expeditions and managing physical risks, one facilitator who has significant experience as a youth worker and educator, and one community volunteer or elder who has a unique gift, wisdom, or skill to bring to the expedition team.  In addition, BOLD is committed to, and has succeeded in having an instructor team that directly reflects the demographics of the students we serve.  Our expeditions are exceptional and that is a direct result of the great skill, experience, diversity, and dedication of our exceptional staff.  Click here to meet them.

If you would like to learn more about BOLD and how you can get involved please contact Andrew Jay at (206) 587 6119 or ajay@seattleymca.org.

More information can also be found on our summer wrap up.  Click here to download (pdf)

Cheers!