City Kids Wilderness Project

City Kids Wilderness Project’s mission is to build resiliency, broaden horizons, cultivate community, and develop skills for success in DC youth through a long-term, cohort-based model that utilizes both the wilderness and urban environment to encourage growth.

City Kids Wilderness Project is a DC-based nonprofit dedicated to providing transformative outdoor experiences for 6th-12th grade students over a seven-year journey. Through adventures in Washington, DC, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming—our home away from home—we empower youth to build resilience, expand their horizons, and develop essential life skills.

For over 28 years, City Kids has been a trusted space for under-served DC youth, offering opportunities to explore nature and challenge themselves in a supportive community.

During the school year, participants paddle the Potomac, bike the C&O Canal, scale indoor and outdoor climbing walls, and embark on sea kayaking adventures along the East Coast. In the summer, they head west to Broken Arrow Ranch in Jackson Hole, where they experience the magic of camp—horseback riding, backpacking in the Tetons, kayaking in Yellowstone, and so much more.

Beyond outdoor adventures, City Kids supports high school students with career exploration, job training, community service, and social justice programming—equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive.