Team Wilderness awarded for teaching urban youth leadership in the wilderness

Published: Jan 09, 2024 - View the original story on NJ.com

By David Mosca | The Jersey Journal

Jersey City-based not-for-profit Team Wilderness, which allows urban teens to experience the outdoors, was awarded the 2023 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for Healthy Communities.

Team Wilderness uses outdoor excursions teach teens leadership and grow character. The organization provided more than 9,000 hours of time outdoors to more than 550 youth throughout Hudson County in 2023.

"This award is great recognition of our staff's hard work and dedication to closing the nature gap for marginalized communities that lack equitable access to wild and clean outdoor spaces," said Steve Cunningham, founder and Executive Director of Team Wilderness. "Hiking up a mountain, rappelling down a cliff, and watching your first sunset from a mountaintop helps you look inward and shape who you are. Everyone deserves to experience that regardless of their zip code."

The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards has been a statewide environmental awards program in New Jersey since 2000. The awards are given annually to individuals and organizations that "demonstrate commitment and leadership on a variety of environmental issues, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability and education."

"The achievements of this year’s award winners capture the essence of environmentalism in New Jersey and set a shining example for us all to follow,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette. “It’s an honor to celebrate their determined efforts to protect the state’s natural resources and help others connect to nature.”

Team Wilderness’ signature programs include Wilderness Club, Photography Club, and Summer Treks. In addition to physical activity, each Team Wilderness excursion is integrated with "social and emotional" reflection on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Additionally, in 2023, the organization integrated Compass Project, an academic coaching program that guides students from grade 10 through their first two years of college. It also integrated North Star Project as well, which offers a free short-term youth counseling program that emphasizes wilderness and adventure therapy.