Our Impact
CAT operates at the powerful intersection of outdoor adventure, justice, and personal transformation. Through activities like paddling, climbing, biking, and camping, CAT helps young people build essential social-emotional skills including confidence, perseverance, self-regulation, and the ability to move through fear toward courage.
Equally important, our programs support youth in reclaiming their connection to the natural world and building community with their peers—experiences that foster deep belonging and serve as protective factors in the face of systemic stress and trauma.
“Apprenticing with CAT has been a meaningful experience because it’s allowed me to help people connect with the outdoors in real and personal ways. I came in with some leadership skills, but working with CAT has helped me grow in my outdoor abilities, especially in kayaking, rock climbing, and risk assessment, while also deepening my understanding of environmental justice and the importance of access and equity in outdoor spaces.”
- Christina C.
