Catrock Ventures Inc

EMPOWERING UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES.

THE CATROCK YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (THE "ACADEMY") IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT TARGETS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES BY COMBINING A RESEARCH-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM WITH EXPEDITIONS THAT INCORPORATE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING. THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED WITH IN-KIND DONATIONS FOR RENT/UTILITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTER AND WAREHOUSE TOTALING $78,000 PER YEAR. THROUGH THE ACADEMY, PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, BUILD POSITIVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS, AND EMERGE WITH TANGIBLE EXPERIENCES OF PERSISTENCE IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS (E.G., SNOWSHOEING UP A VERY STEEP MOUNTAIN). STUDENTS ALSO LEARN HOW TO TAKE ACTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD UPON THEIR EXPERIENCES OF ADDRESSING COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFTER THE PROGRAM.

THE MAKERSPACE AND DESIGN LAB IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH LEARNING AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED CDC-COMPLIANT, IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP YOUTH DEVELOP SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS THROUGH A YOUTH-LED ADVOCACY INITIATIVE THAT INVOLVED DESIGNING AND CREATING REUSABLE MASKS TO ADDRESS A COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. STUDENTS ALSO HELPED DESIGN AND LAUNCH AN ONLINE STORE (HTTPS://WWW.CATROCKVENTURES.ORG/STORE) TO PROMOTE SAFE COMMUNITIES WHILE HELPING REDUCE PPE LITTER IN PARKS AND STREETS IN THE BRONX. EACH YEAR STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO UPCYCLE USED GEAR THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING GROUNDED IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ADVOCACY. WE PARTNER WITH PATAGONIA TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO REPAIR HUNDREDS OF LIGHTLY WORN OR DAMAGED GARMENTS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES BRONX YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS TAKE STUDENTS FROM LOCAL PARKS IN THE BRONX TO THE DEEP WILDERNESS OF THE UNITED STATES. OUR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI LEADERS HELP LEAD CLEANUPS, INVASIVE PLANTS REMOVALS, PLANTINGS, AND TREE BED RESTORATIONS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHIER LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND ENGENDER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS. EACH SUMMER A GROUP OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN AN EIGHT-DAY IMMERSIVE WILDERNESS EXPEDITION WHERE THEY LEARN AND APPLY SKILLS ON TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS IN THE WOODS OF MONTANA. PARTNERS SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE LOCAL PARK GROUPS, CITY PARKS FOUNDATION, NEW YORK CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT, PARTNERSHIP FOR PARKS, THE SELWAY BITTERROOT FRANK CHURCH FOUNDATION, SIERRA CLUB, THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB AND OTHERS.