Chicago Voyagers Builds Student Skills Through Nature

The nonprofit Chicago Voyagers is providing free monthly outdoor expeditions for Chicago-area middle school students to build soft skills like collaboration and leadership. The program outfits students with gear and trained guides for activities like hiking, canoeing, and rock climbing.

Ellen Mazza, a school social worker at Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago, brings diverse groups of eight or nine 7th and 8th graders on these trips. She says the activities foster autonomy, self-advocacy, and communication. "If they need help with something or don't understand something, they help each other," Mazza stated, clarifying she was speaking for herself and not her district. Canoeing, for instance, forces paddlers to talk and coordinate.

Focus on Mental Well-Being

Alex Goodfellow, executive director of Chicago Voyagers, links the program to a growing body of research on nature's mental and physical health benefits. She argues it provides dopamine boosts without the need for social media validation. Goodfellow sees the expeditions as a counter to the negative spiral of digital media on youth mental health. Nature offers an escape, improves mood, and lowers stress, she claims.

The program specifically aims for inclusion. It is free and provides all necessary clothing and equipment. Goodfellow says the focus is on building a sense of belonging for marginalized groups, including lower-income populations historically excluded from safe outdoor recreation. She points to disparities in neighborhood safety across Chicago as a key reason for providing this access.

Building Relationships and Community

A significant benefit, according to Goodfellow, is the chance for students to build stronger relationships with trusted adults from their schools and communities. Educators and social workers get to see students outside the classroom's constraints. They witness peer interactions and different sides of the children's personalities. Students also connect with adults like art or gym teachers in a new context.

For many participants, these trips are a first. Goodfellow notes that while Chicago sits on Lake Michigan, numerous young people have never seen or experienced it. She believes these experiences create a new sense of place and possibility. They connect students to their community and the wider world, revealing opportunities simply by engaging with nature.

Student Experiences and Outcomes

Mazza selects students with an eye for leadership qualities and the ability to follow directions. The groups are diverse, including students with and without disabilities, Spanish speakers, Black students, and both girls and boys. Activities often pose new challenges, prompting Mazza to ask, 'What would a leader do, right now?'

The students reportedly love the monthly outings. They enjoy exposure to novel activities like using a compass or reading a map. Mazza observes that collaboration often happens between students who aren't friends, fostering acceptance. The skills practiced outdoors, she says, can be brought back into the classroom. The program continues to operate, offering Chicago youth a unique pathway to develop critical soft skills.