Bay Area Outdoor Leadership Program

Leadership, belonging, and healing take root in nature and grow through community.

Through shared adventure, connection with the natural world, and a consistent, caring community that stays with them for the long-term, young people build confidence, find their voice, and begin to shape a future that is free from stigma.

 
 
 
 

What is the Outdoor Leadership Program?

Project Avary’s Outdoor Leadership Program has been at the heart of our work for over 25 years. It began with a simple yet powerful belief: children of incarcerated parents deserve long-term care, meaningful opportunities, and a community that sees and supports them.

Starting as early as age 8 through age 25 (and beyond as counselors), youth participate in summer camp, weekend retreats, and day-long outings across Northern California. These experiences create a stable foundation of support that lasts from childhood into young adulthood.

Here, youth find people who believe in them, friends who understand them, and a place where they are safe to be themselves. Over time, they develop trust, confidence, and leadership skills that serve them far beyond the outdoors.

Each outing weaves in Project Avary’s evidence-based strategies, supporting youth with tools for resilience, communication, emotional wellness, and personal growth.

What Participation Looks like:

Project Avary is a long-term journey of connection and growth. Youth are invited to participate in multiple activities throughout the year — not just once.

Annual activities include:

  • four weeks of overnight summer camp

  • eight weekend retreats

  • 10 day-long outdoor adventures

  • family unity events such as our Summer BBQ, Holiday Party, and Family Camp for youth and their caregivers.

🔺 All of our programs are offered at no cost to families.

 
 
 

Grant Acknowledgments

Our outdoor programming is made possible thanks to generous partners who share our commitment to building equity and expanding access to nature, public lands, and California’s coasts and parks for youth impacted by parental incarceration.

For a more detailed list of our all our adventure and funding partners, please click here.

California State Parks, Outdoor Equity Grants Program: This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.

California Natural Resources Agency, Youth Community Access Grant Program: Funding provided by the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) for the Youth Community Access Grant Program

California Coastal Commission, Whale Tail Grants Program: This program is supported by the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grants Program.