Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

To challenge and equip vulnerable youth from the inner city of Toronto to become contributing members of their communities. Trails is an outdoor experiential learning program for youth that helps youth develop practical skills, relevant knowledge and the self-confidence to encourage their personal growth and development.

History of Organization

In 1992 founders Jim Hayhurst Sr. and Peter Dalglish, prominent business men had a goal - to equip vulnerable youth with the skills they will need to become contributing members of their communities. Both men were influenced by experiences as campers and researched what was missing to help Toronto’s inner city youth. This led to the formation of Trails offering an outdoor experiential four season, four years for life, youth program. In 1998 Trails built Lakeside site partnering with the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority where on 142 acres a residential setting for adventure-based activities was built. The program was established that looked at an approach of challenge and adventure, experiential education, critical thinking and transference.  In 2000 trails became the recipient of two bursary funds to aid graduates to continue to post-secondary education.  In 2001 Trails was granted Independent School Status and now provides 3.5 high school credits.  We take 80 youth per year (10 boys & 10 girls) in Grade 7 for four years and in 2002 expanded to include  a 5th year Leaders in Training and now have 88 youth involved per year.  In 2007 Trails received monies for Trails Alumni to pursue continuing education in efforts to help them realize their potential.

Accolades and Accomplishments

The Trails programme was founded on the principle of relationships and fostering connections that are collaborative and sustainable. Our outdoor experiential program instills a desire in our youth to pursue their education to belong to their community, to embrace their civic responsibility, and to respect others. Our youth achieved 40 hours of community service at Trails and enjoyed over 27 days of canoe tripping experience in remote wilderness areas of Ontario. Students in the program earn 3.5 high school credits and, in 2009, 100% of participants eligible received high school credits in either grade 9, 11 or 12 Physical Education achieving a grade point average of 85% in these credits. For some this was the difference between graduating and not.  Out of the 16 youth who graduated from our program in 2009, 90% are now attending post secondary education.  Assisted by Trails bursaries, our Wendy Anderson Fund sponsored 8 youth from 2000-2010 with $66,000 dollars in post-secondary education. Of the 8 youth, 7 have graduated from post-secondary.  At the same time the Danielle Dion Bursary Fund sponsored 26 youth with $127,000 in post-secondary education.  Of the 26 youth, 14 have graduated from post-secondary. 12 Trails Alumni are in their 1st and 2nd year of post secondary education. From 2007-2009, the Tides Canada Foundation helped 6 youth with $14,000 to pursue continuing education. What this means for our youth is the possibility of a brighter and more prosperous future. What this means to this city is an increase in wealth and therefore a successful city.

Programs

>Trails Youth Initiatives

Trails Youth Initiatives’ offers vulnerable youth with a long term, part-time programming that offers opportunities to learn and grow in a safe environment, to gain high school credits while cultivating life skills, building self-confidence and self-respect, using the outdoors as a vehicle for change.

Trails Youth Initiatives

Trails Youth Initiatives’ offers vulnerable youth with a long term, part-time programming that offers opportunities to learn and grow in a safe environment, to gain high school credits while cultivating life skills, building self-confidence and self-respect, using the outdoors as a vehicle for change.

We offer an integrated curriculum and a tailored program to meet the unique learning needs of vulnerable youth.  We focus on capacity building, with four seasons, four years-long term contact with small groups of 20 youth with a staff to youth ratio of 1:5.  Our youth achieve 40 hours of community service and once they graduate from the program and are eligible to apply for one of  three scholarships for further educational opportunities.  We collaborate with 15 other organizations in the GTA who service youth.

Our curriculum is based on communication and group skills, healthy living, inside out, outdoor skills, building wings and service.  We make a difference by offering meaningful participation, focusing on ability and relationships. Our development outcomes are Roots – a sense of belonging, mutual respect, focus on abilities; Critical Thinking – non-violent communication, consensus decision making; and Wings – emotional competency, sense of agency and social responsibility.

Program Impact

Since 1992 Trails has worked with vulnerable youth and in 2009, 90% of those who graduated from Trails, graduated from high school.  With the assistance of Trails bursaries, we have 32 graduates who have attended or are attending post secondary institutions and 21 that have graduated, and 6 who are pursuing continuing education in efforts to help them realize their potential. Based on our youth participants feedback, their top ten learning outcomes have been respect for others, control of anger,  trusting people, responsibility, confidence, VOMP for conflict resolution, “I” statements, physical fitness, team work and outdoor skills.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Education and prosperity are closely linked and successful cities rely on continuous learning. An educated population contributes to the city’s wealth, but income disparities leave some far behind.”

“High school completion key to success: 18.6 per cent of those in the region 15 years old and over, had not completed secondary education in 2008 (a drop from 32.3 per cent in 1990).” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

“I am one of ten children living in a single parent household. My home is located in one of Toronto’s high-risk neighbourhoods.  In my community there is a lot of drug and gun trafficking. People close to me have died due to gun violence. Many younger people in my neighbourhood don’t have a positive person in their lives to look up too. However, never once did my mom tell me that I could not achieve the goals that I set out for myself. She involved me, from a young age, in programs but none impacted my life like Trails Youth Initiatives did. What differentiates Trails from a lot of other organizations is its four-year commitment to its youth. Having a place to go every month where I could express myself fully and be that person that I wanted to be was essential in helping me make that change from an insecure negative person to one of confidence and positivity. 

The Trails family has been a constant support network and has taught me about getting an education, leadership, the environment, and to reflect on all the things that I have learned during my time at Trails. I will take all these with me wherever I go. “For Life.”  I am now in my third year at York University, double majoring in Theatre and International Development Studies. I have also received the YMCA Youth Peace Medallion for the work that I did in my community and abroad. I KNOW, that because of Trails I am a more confident and outspoken young woman who has, and will continue to bring about positive change not only for myself but for others.” - Tahirah, Trails Graduate.  

We give kids like Tahirah, conditions for achievement through skill and knowledge building.  Our four year commitment to vulnerable youth is unique in Canada.  Youth are provided with the resources they need to improve their lives.  Youth like Tahirah are given the adventure of a lifetime – the chance to camp, canoe and swim... the chance to build character, accept challenges and develop their full potential.