What's My Story?

As long as I can remember, I have loved being someone who inspires those who are younger than I am. Now I have decided to take steps toward forming a business of my own where I can support and educate kids in the area that I have been most passionate about myself: the outdoors.

Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to inspire kids to love and care for our natural environment, and what better way to do that than to create a program that allows children to connect with others and the outdoors to foster a sense of community, responsibility, and care for nature. 

I have decided to start a business, the RVA Outdoor Club, that not only helps kids find ways to connect with nature, but to build independence and confidence in social-emotional skills that might be difficult for them to focus on in their other environments, such as school, competitive athletics, or at home. The goal would be to ultimately be able to serve children of all ages and backgrounds, but right now, I need your help getting this idea off the ground!

What is RVA Outdoor Club?

The basis for the program during the school year would be for qualified adults to work with children in small groups on student-led projects and ideas that have some focus on or presence in the environment. Projects would be synthesized by students, though guided by an instructor, and implemented over the course of several sessions. Some examples of projects include, but are not limited to:
- Foraging and Outdoor Cooking
- Wilderness Survival
- Sustainable Community Gardening Practices
- Environmental Awareness Campaigns
- Learning to Kayak
- Environmentally Conscious Fishing
- Creating Educational Nature Trails
- Ecological Impact Studies
- Art Using Natural Materials
- Documentary Film-making
- Theater and Film as Activism
- Park Cleanup/Litter Reduction
- Building and Engineering for Sustainable Living

In addition to having a focus on the environment, the program would also aim to be trauma-informed in order to work with kids from various backgrounds. It is important to me, as an educator, that the program seeks to support kids in developing ways of coping with challenges in healthy ways that help them become successful adults that can set and accomplish goals of their own with confidence. 

What are RVA Outdoor Club's Needs?

In addition to early business expenses, such as legal filing, insurance, marketing/branding costs, I am going to need your help with purchasing supplies that allow me to implement this program during its first year. Because projects will be student-directed, some of these supplies will be unknown until students decide together what is needed for their project. Supplies will potentially include items such as: building tools, safety equipment,  building supplies, art supplies, and scientific measurement tools.

Additionally, the program will have a continuous need for supplies such as snacks for the kids, first aid supplies, outdoor safety equipment/protective gear, and PPE to protect participants while COVID19 is still present in the community. 

While this program is still in its early stages of being formed, I have faith that it will grow into a program that provides an incredible amount of learning and support for the kids that are a part of it. I hope you can consider donating to help me create this dream and help kids become passionate about caring for our environment so that we can continue to work together to save and cherish it for future generations.

Thank you so much for your support and your belief in this program!