Switchback Spring, May 22-24, 2027 in New Orleans, LA
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Switchback at TRE, December 1-3, 2026 in San Antonio, TX
Twenty-two years ago, I headed into the West Virginia backcountry with a lofty goal. As an adult volunteer with Big City Mountaineers (BCM), I was part of a mission to inspire and uplift a small group of Latino teens from gang-impacted neighborhoods in Maryland. These young men had navigated the brutal realities of street life before ever seeing a trailhead, and we assumed we faced a steep climb to bridge the gap between their world and the woods.
The handful of adult leaders in our group were not professional guides or counselors. We were just hopeful mentors doing our best. While backpacking in the Otter Creek Wilderness, we introduced the kids to gear that was entirely foreign to them. In the summer heat, we splashed in creeks and encouraged them to explore an unfamiliar environment. We taught them the magic of making campfire S’mores. And each evening, we did the real work, listening as they spoke candidly about their lives.
Our trip leader, David, received guidance from BCM, but in 2004, it was mostly a “throw the kids in a van and go” approach. If we succeeded, it was due to grit, heart, and belief in the trail’s power. As the outdoor industry matured and young people’s needs changed, so did BCM.
Today, the organization continues to reach underserved communities, but with a higher level of professionalism. Under Executive Director Elizabeth Williams, BCM has evolved into a sophisticated organization. By professionalizing staff, building a social-emotional wellness curriculum, and moving to a localized “hub model,” BCM ensures its outdoor magic is backed by an intentional strategy.
While our 2004 trek through West Virginia felt grassroots, it was fairly organized compared to how BCM began in 1989. Founder Jim Kern was planning a backpacking trip to Montana with his son, but when his son’s friend backed out at the last minute, Kern didn’t want the spot to go to waste. He reached out to a local YMCA in Miami to see if there was a kid who might want to fill the gap. Soon, he was flying a teenager from Miami’s urban core out to the American West for a week in the mountains.
The trip was a success, proving the wilderness could be a powerful classroom. For its first decade, BCM remained informal, relying on volunteers who used their own money to buy gear and fly students across the country. There were no standardized risk protocols; it was simply a belief that the mountains would do the work.
That unstructured approach eventually reached its limits. National travel became too expensive, and without professional staff or local roots, the model was less effective at creating lasting change.
The most significant shift for BCM was moving away from a purely volunteer-led framework. “We’ve moved to a model where we’re hiring professional instructors now,” says Williams.
Today, every outing includes at least two instructors certified as Wilderness First Responders. In addition, these leaders are trained in trauma-informed care, so they’re able to recognize signs of past trauma to create an environment prioritizing emotional safety. “For a long time, the organization relied on just the ‘magic of the mountains’,” says Williams. “We’re much more intentional now about the curriculum, ensuring that the experience is actually meeting the needs of the youth where they are today.”
This pivot was necessary because modern youths face unprecedented challenges. “Today’s youth are experiencing more stress, more anxiety, and more mental health challenges than ever before,” says Williams.
According to a 2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Furthermore, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a rare “National Health Advisory” citing a youth mental health crisis.
For 18-year-old Devin DeLeon, a high school senior from the Bay Area, those heavy pressures are a daily topic of conversation among his peers. “They tell me all about it,” DeLeon says. “They’re like, ‘Devin, I don’t know if I can handle this. I don’t know if I can do this final. I don’t know if I could pay off this bill.’” Over the past few years, DeLeon has participated in three BCM backpacking trips through his involvement with YES Nature to Neighborhoods, a California-based nonprofit that connects youth to outdoor experiences. DeLeon found that the backpacking trips offered some peace of mind. “By going out and exploring nature, it’s helped me regulate my emotions and be able to cope with stress and manage it,” he says.
To help young people deal with emotional challenges, BCM hires staff with backgrounds in youth development. Today’s digital, screen-heavy world leaves many teens disconnected from nature. In underserved communities, the sense of isolation is worsened as young people face a stark lack of physical access and historical exposure to the outdoors. Combined, these factors can make the backcountry feel physically or culturally inaccessible. Professional instructors use a specialized curriculum to turn an intimidating wilderness into a safe place for growth.
BCM trips still involve independent adult volunteers, many of whom are simply community members looking for ways to give back. In contrast to the past, these volunteers now serve as part of a structured adult team alongside BCM field instructors and staff from partner youth agencies. To maintain its high standards, BCM vets adult volunteers and requires formal applications and background checks.
Far from being just extra hands, these community members often enhance the entire experience, says Luis Pacheco, youth leadership pathway manager at YES Nature to Neighborhoods. “Volunteers amplify the experience because they bring in their personal talents or skills,” he says, recalling a recent trip that included a volunteer who was an avid birder. “That volunteer brought binoculars and a birding book and was sharing their knowledge with the youth, and it just elevated the trip even further.”
To effectively support today’s youth, BCM not only revamped its strategy with adult leaders but also restructured its programming, shifting from national travel toward localized regional hubs. The primary goal of these hubs is to enable more consistent, long-term touchpoints with young people. Through regular contact, BCM more effectively breaks down barriers for a generation increasingly disconnected from nature. By establishing a permanent presence in cities such as San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Denver, CO; and Birmingham, AL, professional staff and recurring mentors can now provide a slow, intentional progression of experiences. This pipeline starts with a simple day trip, builds to an overnight stay, and culminates in a three- to five-day backpacking trip, building trust slowly over multiple interactions.
Based in Richmond, CA, YES has directly benefited from this layered progression throughout its partnership with BCM’s San Francisco hub. Pacheco notes that the regional framework enhances how they support their “Leaders” (ages 14–15) and “Fellows” (ages 16–18) cohorts through a progressive summer itinerary.
For the predominantly Latinx and Black youth YES serves, this gradual introduction is crucial. “BCM has been super accommodating in making sure that we have a trip series that really scaffolds the experience,” Pacheco says, noting that for many of his students, getting outdoors is entirely foreign. By the time these teens head out on their final five-day backpacking trip, those regular touchpoints have turned an intimidating wilderness into a place where they feel completely at home. “Having BCM work more as a hub, you’re having more interaction, and there’s a lot of trust that’s been built throughout the years,” Pacheco says.
That transformation is clear in DeLeon, who started as a YES “Ranger” at age 10 and is now planning his own independent backpacking trips with friends as he prepares to attend UC Merced on a full scholarship. Looking back on the determination it took to push past his comfort zone on the trail, he recognizes how much the experience reshaped his self-worth. “It’s helped me take a little pride in who I am,” he says, adding that he has a better perspective on life and is more equipped to work through difficult times. “Whatever’s going on, whatever’s happening, it’s not going to be like that forever,” he says. “Things change.”
Ensuring that BCM can continue to deliver these life-changing experiences for the long haul requires a model that is both highly impactful and economically smart. While the hub model directly benefits young people, it also saves money. Reducing national travel costs allows BCM to dedicate more of its budget to rising operational expenses, ensuring long-term sustainability.
As BCM tries to stay ahead of rising costs, long-term sustainability has become a major focus, and the organization is diversifying its funding. Historically, the organization was closely aligned with legacy outdoor brands like REI, The North Face, and JanSport.
However, recent financial pressures have forced outdoor companies to reduce monetary support for nonprofits. While many brands still want to help BCM, several offer gear instead of cash. “Right now, a lot of brands are supporting us with product, but we also need to pay our employees,” says Williams.
As a result, BCM now works with a broader range of partners, from financial institutions to tech firms. This expansion is proving beneficial, as these companies recognize the importance of investing in young people. As Williams notes, “Youth mental health is a priority for so many funders.”
After discussing young peoples’ mental health with Williams, I started thinking about my BCM trip to West Virginia so many years ago.
During the post-hike drive back to Maryland, I sat next to 16-year-old Adolfo, who had thrived on our journey, grinning as he cast his fishing line into the cool, clear waters of Otter Creek.
As we cruised down the highway, he suddenly became stressed, furrowing his brow as his phone buzzed relentlessly.
“Who keeps calling?” I asked.
“It’s someone from the gang,” he replied.
“What do they want?”
“They want me to shoot someone.”
Honestly, I didn’t know how to respond.
After our trip, I caught up with the director of our partner youth organization. She said Adolfo was hiding to avoid MS-13 while the court attempted to grant him U.S. citizenship and move him somewhere safe. For precaution, she couldn’t share more, and I never learned his fate.
There is no doubt that there are countless teenagers that deal with these same harsh realities today. Alongside these extreme cases, the broader population of underserved youth faces a different combination of modern stressors. For some families, stepped-up immigration enforcement causes serious anxiety, while other young people face increasing isolation due to their screen addiction or limited access to safe and welcoming places to play outdoors.
With young people facing greater obstacles, the evolution of BCM has been crucial. A professional, structured, and sustainable operation can more effectively provide young people with the support they need and deserve. At its core, BCM isn’t just offering a temporary distraction from the city; it’s providing a carefully constructed and well-tended path to a better future.
