This summer, the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District (H.A.R.D.) launched the Ascent Project—a bold new program giving Hayward teens the chance to experience outdoor sports and adventures that are often out of reach due to cost and lack of exposure.

Over the course of seven immersive days, ten local youth (ages 14–16) explored the East Bay’s parks, trails, and waterways—many for the first time. They took on backcountry hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, and overnight camping. Along the way, they learned far more than just outdoor skills—they built confidence, practiced teamwork, and developed leadership abilities they can carry into school, jobs, and life.

Learning Beyond the Trail

The program integrated social-emotional learning (SEL) using the nationally recognized CASEL framework, focusing on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Through daily self-reflections, group discussions, and instructor feedback, participants learned to step up when leadership was needed, listen when it mattered most, and work together when things didn’t go as planned.

By week’s end, these young leaders were making group decisions, solving challenges collaboratively, and encouraging each other to push beyond their comfort zones.

A Week of Firsts

· Day 1 – Hiking Wildcat Canyon: Building trust, setting group agreements, and discovering the value of shared goals.

· Day 2 – Mountain Biking & Shoreline Cleanup: Overcoming fear, pacing the group, and leading hands-on environmental action.

· Day 3 – Indoor Rock Climbing: Practicing safety, trust, and problem-solving as a team.

· Day 4 – Kayaking Lake Chabot: Navigating real-time communication challenges on the water.

· Day 5 – Leadership Workshops: Planning meals, gear, and roles for the overnight trip.

· Days 6 & 7 – Camping at Lake Del Valle: Leading hikes, setting up camp, managing meals, and adapting to changing weather—together.

For 90% of participants, these activities were entirely new experiences.

In Their Words

“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without this program.”

“Kayaking was my favorite—I’d never done that before!”

“I didn’t even know there were places to go rock climbing nearby.”

“This was amazing. My family couldn’t afford summer programs, but I got to spend a week kayaking and camping.”

Breaking Barriers

Removing obstacles was at the heart of the Ascent Project. H.A.R.D. provided the program free of charge, along with a participation-based stipend to help offset lost work or family obligations. Gear access—such as proper shoes, jackets, and backpacks—remained a challenge, and partnerships with outdoor retailers like REI or Sports Basement could make a big difference for future sessions.

Looking Ahead

The Ascent Project’s inaugural year was a resounding success, and H.A.R.D. plans to:

· Expand participation

· Strengthen partnerships with schools and outdoor outfitters

· Develop alumni opportunities for mentorship and advanced leadership training

With community investment, we can continue to remove barriers, open the outdoors to more youth, and help the next generation of leaders rise to the challenge.

Special thanks to our instructors, program partners, families, H.A.R.D. leadership, and the H.A.R.D. Foundation for making this first summer possible.