Life lessons occur above treeline

The uphill climb of 2021.

Boasting with energy and often teaching us more than we feel we teach them, the kids from the Canary Club kept it going. Due to the effects of COVID and restrictions on the 10th Mountain Division, the March hut trip was modified to exclude the overnight and still accommodate for two back-to-back days of backcountry training. Alongside Paragon guides, AI team members guided the participants to be present and appreciate the outdoors as a way to deal with the stress and challenges of life.

The on-mountain curriculum affords them with practical application of how to stop, analyze their situation and make the best informed choice. Still, it's not as serious as it sounds, there is laughter, conjecture and overheard aside conversations. One of the highlights of this year's Canary Club for us was when new participants joined on the second day - the other kids murmured, "na, no way they'll survive without the first day's training." We make it sneaky progression; the kids can take the skills they learn and apply one, then apply another, building an acumen which they can also use off mountain. Life lessons occur above treeline.

The Canary Club was founded to foster authentic mountain experiences and amplify environmental awareness with underrepresented youth in mountain communities.