Special to the Journal
The Revere High School Outdoors Club recently announced a new
partnership with the Foundation Trust, a private philanthropic organization serving the greater Boston area.
The grant of $4,235 will support current and expanding RHS Outdoors Club programming during the 2023-2024 school year.
“This partnership between the Foundation Trust and the RHS Outdoors Club will yield a myriad of benefits for our students,” said Jesus Lopez, Co-Advisor of the RHS Outdoor Club. “We look forward to engaging in this work. A gracious thank you to the Foundation Trust
for supporting us as we bring our vision into reality,”
The grant will enable the RHS Outdoors Club to implement a rock climbing program by helping it purchase climbing equipment and covering fees for three climbing trips to Metro Rock climbing gym in
Everett. These trips will introduce as many as 50 students to the art of indoor rock climbing and offer the chance for others to further develop their climbing skills. The climbing gear will also enable the program to include outdoor rock climbing in places like Lynn Woods, Hammond Pond, and Red Rocks.
The partnership will include a presentation by the Foundation Trust’s Training Associate Beth Waterman, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who focuses on trauma and healing.
“We are very interested in further exploring the intersection of nature, mindfulness, and mental health,” said RHS Outdoor Club Co-Advisor
Isabel Solano. “Rock climbing provides many benefits including physical fitness, cardiovascular health, as well as a host of mental health benefits including reduction in anxiety and increased self-esteem.”
Joseph Spinazzola, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Foundation Trust said our bodies carry the stress from daily living along with the accumulated toll of life adversity.
“Our bodies are also the greatest source of recovery and resilience in the aftermath of these experiences,” he said. “The Foundation Trust is excited to support youth programming that engages the body in strengths-based activities that cultivate new skills, foster wellness, and build community.”
A final portion of the grant will fund a spring camping trip in New Hampshire for junior and senior class members. Fifteen students will have the opportunity to experience the great outdoors in the mountains of New Hampshire. Students will learn how to set up tents, build fires, cook on camping stoves, and get the chance to hike bigger mountains like Mount Cardigan.
The RHS Outdoors Club was established in 2014 to address opportunity gaps by providing students with access to nature, greenspace, and recreational opportunities in Massachusetts and beyond. The RHS Outdoors Club comprises a diverse group of students and teachers who enjoy being outdoors together.
Their programming includes day hiking, climbing, and camping, as well as hosting community building activities, sports, and adventure film viewing.
The Foundation Trust is a private operating foundation committed to uplifting vulnerable individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.FoundationTrust.org.
