An organization that connects youth counselling with land-based activities received a $2,000 grant from the City of Colwood at the special meeting of the council on Monday (April 29).
Take a Hike Foundation partners with the Sooke School District and provides counselling for 20 vulnerable young students in grades 10-12.
Colwood had approved grant requests on April 8 with a total budget of $33,100 and left $12,900 spare for off-cycle applications.
The foundation operates out of its Sooke-Westshore location and 53 per cent of youth in the program are from Colwood.
Mental health for young people is essential to address, and getting them into the outdoors was a great return on investment for the city, Colwood coun Ian Ward said at the council meeting.
A report from Colwood states that the services provided by Take a Hike youth improved academic and community engagement. The program has also resulted in healthy relationships and an increase in high school graduation.
According to the Take a Hike website, 90 per cent of students who engaged with their programs graduated from high school.
The foundation was started in 2000 and operates out of five other municipalities Vancouver, Burnaby, Nanaimo, Delta and West Kootenay.
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