Thanks to the generous support of the Torrance Refining Company as the presenting sponsor for our Kids to Camps Golf Tournament, youth in our community have enjoyed three life-changing programs during the summer of 2021.
Youth Institute
The Youth Institute program is based at North High School and is geared towards youth in 9th and 10th grades. The program begins with a Wilderness Retreat at YMCA Camp High Sierra where the kids learn team building, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Then the following six weeks are an intensive media arts skills-building program where the youth learn important job skills in video editing, writing, sound production, and media arts. This is supported year-round through tutoring, mentoring, and college preparation programs. Golf Tournament funds subsidized 100% of the cost of this program including end of summer stipends for the youth who completed the program.
Boys/Girls Outdoor Leadership (BOLD/GOLD)
Based out of YMCA Camp Whittle in Big Bear, the BOLD/GOLD program is a wilderness-based challenge program where participants learn outdoor living, team building, and leadership skills while backpacking and rock-climbing in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. Youth returning from the program this year shared how they gained self-confidence and overcame insecurities and fears of the unknown. Golf Tournament funds were used to “buy out” the BOLD/GOLD week-long program for ten youth for the Torrance-South Bay branch.
Camp Whittle Leadership Week
Thirty teens spent a week in early August at Camp Whittle participating in traditional camp activities – swimming, archery, ropes challenge course, team building activities, sports and games, and of course, the magical nightly campfires. Many of these teens have attended camp in previous years and really missed it in 2020, so this week was like a homecoming for many. These teens are also interested in moving into camp leadership roles in future summers, and this summer’s leadership camp experience has helped to prepare them for that next step. Golf Tournament funds were used to provide financial assistance to families for the cost of camp so that no one was turned away due to inability to pay.
To learn more about these initiatives or ways to support these and other Torrance-South Bay YMCA programs, please visit the Y website or call 310.325.5885.
