Changing lives since 1992

  • Support Icon

    Support Trails

    Help empower youth to become contributing members in their communities.

    Donate today
  • Join Icon

    Our Events

    Join us for our fundraiser events and learn how you can support Trails!

    View Events
  • Program Icon

    Trails Program

    Through a longitudinal approach, Trails focuses on creating lasting change in youth.

    Explore our program

Our impact in numbers

  • 500+

    Graduates since 1992

  • 99%

    of our youth graduate high school (compared to a 50% drop out rate of peers)

  • 72%

    of our youth go on to post-secondary school

  • 1.5M

    the cost per year, all raised through private funding

Trails provides life-long, consistent programming for vulnerable youth.

Our mission is to challenge and equip vulnerable youth from at-risk areas to become contributing members of the community. The “Four Seasons, Four Years, For Life” outdoor program builds confidence through skill development, high school credits, bursaries and mentorship.

Trails Youth
From our Participants

Testimonials

Trails recognized as Top Charity in Canada as published by Maclean’s and Moneysense magazines

Macleans Top Charity Top Charity 100 MoneySense Top Charity Top Charity 100
Who we are

About Trails

Trails was built on the belief that all youth — especially those facing barriers based on race, income, education and neighbourhood — benefit from a long-term, consistent approach to engagement, one that uses outdoor experiential learning to teach leadership, resiliency, and conflict resolution, as well as physical and mental wellness. Racialized youth and those from single-parent families are three times more likely to drop out of high school and 55% of students from low-income groups do not

apply for post-secondary education, yet Trails participants have a 100% high school graduation rate and 72% pursue post-secondary education with the help of Trails’ bursary and mentorship program.

Trails Program Badge
Program overview

The Trails Program

Through a long-term commitment, Trails focuses on creating lasting change. Each element builds on the success of the previous element; each year builds on the previous year; each component is transferable to day-to-day life: at home, in school and the community.

  • Year I: Trust

    Participants arrive nervous and curious, and build trust with one another and their staff team as they are introduced to the “Trails Way.”

  • Year II: Self-Confidence

    Kids are impelled into more intense challenges and experiences.

  • Year III: Consistency

    The program unfolds teaching transferable skills and building relevant knowledge.

  • Year IV: Commitment

    Participants are ready to spread their wings and become contributing members of the community.

  • Year V: Contribution (LIT)

    With their increased skills, knowledge and confidence, their horizons expand and they transfer their learnings to younger participants.

  • Year VI: Engagement (FIT)

    Graduates interested and capable of creating change have the opportunity for employment with paid intern positions at Trails.

  • For Life

    Graduates of the Trails program are further supported with mentorship, post-secondary education bursaries and career connections.

What’s new

News & Events