Help Salvatore raise money

Hello! My name is Sal, and I’m raising money to run in Twin Cities Marathon on October 6th, 2024 for YMCA of the North’s Adventure Team, a cohort of 17+ camps and adventure programs that offer outdoor experiences for all ages, 365 days per year. I'm raising money to support equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout these programs.

Why am I running? 

I feel lucky to have been on staff at Camp Northern Lights during the first few years of the Taking S.T.E.P.S. Initiative, which is a program started by camp staff in 2020 and funded primarily by individual donors to the program (with some grant funding as well). This program sets aside 50% of camp for BIPOC families, multiracial families, and families with LGBTQ+ identifying members during specific sessions of family camp. It also offers tiered pricing for families when they register for camp, activity stipends so participating families can participate in fee-based activities at camp at a more affordable rate, and funding for seasonal staff to support this program. I have seen firsthand how impactful this program has been for families and for the camp community. It has provided meaningful opportunities for hundreds of people each year to experience representation and community in the north woods of Minnesota, brought equity to the forefront of conversation and culture at camp, and helped make family camping adventures more accessible to communities and families who haven't had that experience yet. See our S.T.E.P.S. newsletter from last year for more info. 

Thinking about the bigger picture...

Camps across the state of Minnesota (and elsewhere) create lifelong positive relationships between people and the natural world. They are stewards of our connection to the outdoors, and they create spaces where people of all backgrounds feel empowered to be the best versions of themselves. Inviting in those who have been traditionally excluded from these spaces is how we expand the reach and the mission of camps, and it is important for these efforts to be intentional, collaborative, and sustained. Proper funding is needed for programs like Taking S.T.E.P.S., scholarships for campers to attend camp, and other equity initiatives. This investment will allow camping and other outdoor adventure spaces to truly serve all.

About Y Adventure...

--Y Adventure is a team within YMCA of the North, the third largest Y Association in the United States, and fifth largest in the world.

--The Y Adventure team operates the largest cohort of camps in the world, at 17 different sites, spread out across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.

--Y Adventure camping programs include Day Camps, Overnight Camps, Wilderness Camps, and Family Camps. Y Adventure programs and camps run 365 days a year, and provide programming specific to each season. 

--Y Adventure programming includes, but isn’t limited to: canoeing, backpacking, rock climbing, dog sledding, maple syrup harvesting and making, school group trips, challenge courses, youth triathlons, adventure races, scavenger hunts, cross country skiing, retreats, outdoor learning and education, and more!

Donations make it all happen!

Any amount, big or small, will make a difference. Help me reach my $1,000 fundraising goal and get to the starting line of Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend by donating today! All proceeds will go directly to supporting my team’s equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts.