Gain Your Outside Perspective

On August 9th, four intrepid youth from the Future Leaders program , loaded into a van at The Bronx Zoo and headed up the Hudson River to Harriman State Park. The Future Leaders program is a youth and workforce development program that: Supports participants in developing their sense of social responsibility; Teaches critical life skills necessary for success in academics and/or employment pursuits; and Contributes tools for becoming effective leaders in communities and around the world. A little unsure of what to expect, participants packed their belongings, food, and gear into backpacks, and took off into the back country for four days. While members of this crew knew each other before the expedition, the group grew closer as they supported one another and began working as a team. The team was completely self supported, carrying everything it needed to survive. Participants cooked their own food, learned to read maps, found a new appreciation for nature, and slept in tents eac...

Outside Perspectives facilitated two team-building days with a group of inspiring individuals from Waterbury Youth Services  on July 26th at Hamilton Park and August 9th at Fulton Park, in Waterbury. The team brought great energy both days and a willingness to step up, diving into the challenges presented to them. As a group, we explored some of Waterbury's hidden natural spaces, laughed a lot, soaked up sun, got to know odd and interesting things about each other,  and successfully completed several group initiatives, including Pipeline (see image to the left). The youth stepped up to the challenge, supporting each other as things got tough, and participating fully in every activity. Treasure found! A  Geocache treasure hunt , requiring individuals to decode a clue and to use navigational skills to find a “cache,” brought out a great spirit of adventure. [gallery ids="1493,1494,1495,1497" type="slideshow"] By the end of the days together, the youth expressed a ...