Climb With Us: Empower Kids Through Outdoor Learning

We are five senior Guardsmen—longtime volunteers, adventurers, and firm believers in the power of nature to transform lives. This spring, we’re setting out on the journey of a lifetime: climbing Mt. Everest. But this climb is about more than reaching the summit—it’s about giving back.

We’re raising $94,500 to send 300 under-resourced children to summer camp through The Guardsmen’s Campership Program, and we’re inviting you to climb with us.

A Journey to Everest: How It All Began

In 2000, a group of young professionals came together through The Guardsmen, a San Francisco-based nonprofit committed to supporting at-risk children through scholarships and outdoor programs. Among them were Brett Bush, Tom Power, Alden Mills, Chip Pyfer, and Dean Poulakidas—the five Guardsmen on this climb. What began as volunteer service blossomed into enduring friendship, and eventually, a shared passion for mountaineering.

Their first climb in 2009—Mt. Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route—was grueling but transformational. From that point on, they committed to climbing one major peak per year, including:

Mt. Shasta, Mt. Hood, Mt. Baker, Grand Tetons, and Mt. Rainier
Mt. Elbrus (2016), which sparked the dream of completing the Seven Summits
Denali (2018), the highest peak in North America
Kilimanjaro (2019), where Brett summited with his 9-year-old son
Aconcagua (2022), a test of grit in South America’s harshest conditions
Mt. Vinson in Antarctica (2024), completed by Brett and Dean

Now, Everest is the final summit in this decades-long journey. The five of us—Brett, Chip, Dean, Tom, and David—will attempt it together in spring 2025. Though Alden can no longer climb due to medical issues, he remains a core part of the team’s spirit and legacy and will join us in Kathmandu to see us off.

Why We Climb

We’ve summited peaks around the world, but the most important ascent is the one we make for our children.

Each of us has witnessed how summer camp changes lives—especially for children growing up in under-resourced communities.

Camp provides:

A safe, structured space to explore the outdoors
Protection against summer learning loss
The chance to build confidence, resilience, and leadership
New friendships and memories that last a lifetime

Our Goal: Send 500 Children to Camp

$45 = 1 Day of Camp
$315 = 1 Full Week of Camp
$630 = 2 Full Weeks of Camp (MOST IMPACTFUL!)
$94,500 = 300 Camperships for Bay Area children

Your gift makes that possible.

Join Our Climb

We’re not asking you to brave Everest with us—but we are asking you to join our mission.

Donate today and help us reach our goal of sending 300 children to camp this summer.

Together, we can transform a personal expedition into a collective legacy of opportunity, growth, and hope. Let’s reach new heights—for the next generation of adventurers, dreamers, and leaders.

Climb with us. Empower kids. Change lives.

About The Guardsmen

The Guardsmen is a San Francisco-based, all-volunteer nonprofit organization founded in 1947. Our mission is to make a life-changing difference in the lives of low-income children, and we do that by providing access to education opportunities. Through our Campership Program, we partner with accredited camps across the San Francisco Bay Area and send thousands of children to safe, structured summer programs that build leadership, resilience, and joy.

To learn more, visit: https://guardsmen.org/mission

The Guardsmen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 94-1196194). All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Guardsmen - Enriching Young Lives Since 1947

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