Jennifer Karowe, Nederland. If you were in town for Frozen Dead Guy Days, you may have noticed that several events supported TEENS, Inc. Money raised from parking cars at HubNed and The Black Forest went to support the TEENS, Inc. girls’ wilderness program. Registration fees from the chilly Polar Plunge were donated to the TEENS, Inc. Outdoor Leadership program as was money raised at the March 2 Mix & Mingle Trivia Night & Fundraiser.

TEENS, Inc. is a safe place where teens can socialize while strengthening peer and adult relationships. Teen Center programming aims to incorporate mentoring, recreation, employment, leadership/character building, and crime, violence and substance abuse prevention.

The Outdoor Leadership program takes all of that a step further – outdoors!
Ryan Cummings, TEENS, Inc. Outdoor Leadership director, has been in the climbing industry for 10 years. His passion for outdoor education brought him to TEENS, Inc. in 2016. Initially, he thought he’d be a physician’s assistant. Then he realized he’d rather be in the field versus in a hospital.
“Being able to remedy a situation at the time of need with what’s at hand is so rewarding,” Cummings said. “In the field, you learn how to handle tough situations in the best way possible and to view problems as learning experiences.” That’s just what his programs teach local youth by focusing on group communication and leadership skills which help teens navigate life experiences.

Fun fall, winter, and spring after-school indoor and outdoor climbing programs help teens overcome mental and physical challenges by learning how to use each other for support. The program focus is on personal goals, healthy risk taking, communication and perseverance. Students climb locally in places like Boulder Canyon and Eldorado Canyon State Park. Cummings is the lead instructor and is American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certified.

Cait Healy, Teen Center director, joined TEENS, Inc. in 2017 and has a long history of promoting public health and environmental community action.
During spring break, Healy is leading a group of eight high school girls on a trip to the Grand Canyon to hike, practice yoga and team building and explore the park. An all-girls group fosters a non-competitive environment focused on building self-confidence and empowerment. They will camp and horseback ride through Canyon de Chelly National Monument and explore Flagstaff, Arizona, all while making incredible memories.

“I so look forward to the camaraderie of all the girls supporting each other,” said Healy. “We get to disconnect from technology and focus on making friends.”

Summer programs offer adventure, challenge and fun.

Each summer TEENS, Inc. offers 5-day leadership retreats. These exciting adventure and camping trips consist of activities like hiking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding and rafting. They provide an intro into back-country living and technical rock-climbing skills. This summer, two younger groups and one older group will journey to the beautiful Gunnison area.

All instructors are Wilderness first responders and are trained in backcountry travel and group facilitation.

Tuition is set on a sliding scale based on family income and circumstances. No student is ever turned away for financial reasons.

Ella Running-Rabbit spoke to a full house at the March 2 fundraiser, saying she attended every TEENS, Inc. program she could including the girls Moab trips, leadership labs and climbing programs. She continued on to become a co-leader of TEENS, Inc. outdoor leadership trips where she led groups of middle schoolers and gained real-life leadership experience.

“I was challenged,” she said, “but in so many good ways!”

“I learned a whole new outlook on life through TEENS, Inc. trips. They changed me for the better and inspired me to be who I am today,” said Running-Rabbit. “Thank you TEENS, Inc.! I wouldn’t be me without you!”

Jennifer Karowe is a former TEENS, Inc. Board member and local mom of two.

(Originally published in the March 28, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)