That’s a Wrap on Summer
Wow, the summer break went by way too fast!Â
We made every moment count this summer and had 8 weeks packed with outdoor adventures, new experiences, and lots of fun at The Hope Center. For summer 2026 we wanted to focus on not only getting our students outside, but getting them to have NEW experiences in the outdoors. We also wanted to make sure we continued bringing the community together through our annual summer block parties and having fun at the Hope Center with new volunteers and students. We could not be more grateful for every single moment we got to take life to the next level.Â
First Time Seeing The Ocean
Do you remember the first time you saw the ocean ? One of our big dreams for this summer became a reality when we were able to take 5 girls who have been a part of our mentorship program to see the ocean for the first time. We gave them challenges and tasks this summer to complete and as a reward for their effort, we took them for a 3 day trip to Panama City, Florida. It is hard to put into words the feeling and impact of seeing their faces when they got to step into the ocean for the first time. The inspiration that comes from nature has a huge impact on mental, physical, and spiritual health and the ocean is the ultimate destination. We got to spend time exploring the beach and even took an expedition to St. Andrews National Park so they could see different marine life and experience the Jettys.Â
Overall, the trip was impactful, full of hard and good conversations, and lots of empowering moments. One girl said, “I just want to figure out a life where I can do this stuff all the time so that I can clear my head and get away from all the stress”.Â
When you take kids out of their stressful environments, when you help them experience new things through their own hard work, and when you empower them with tools to continue to grow, you see lives changed.Â
Snowbird Camp
Another life changing adventure this summer was taking 7 teenage boys to Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters Camp. Snowbird is a week long camp that is full of outdoor activities including ropes courses, zip-lines, hiking, AND white water rafting. When the kids are not enjoying the outdoor options, they are spending time in group sessions for community worship, learning, guidance, and mentorship. The young men that were able to attend this year have worked hard in our Mentorship Program and earned their spot on this adventure. This was a huge undertaking for us this summer and it took a lot of partners and donors to make it possible. We want to say a special thank you to each sponsor that made this dream trip a reality!
We were so grateful to be able to have 3 summer interns and 4 student junior interns this summer to help us make it one no will will forget! We have many more adventures planned so keep a look out for updates.Â
Thank you to each and every partner, volunteer, and host that helped us make this an unforgettable summer, we could not do it without you!
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