Experiential Growth Through Immersive Challenges

Runs a farm and summer camp program dedicated to youth development, providing hands-on educational experiences in an outdoor setting.

Organized regular Wednesday hikes for youth, starting in 1993 with small groups at Rocky Falls and expanding to eight hikes that summer with 23 participants. These weekly hikes are part of an ongoing program to engage youth in consistent outdoor activity.

Engages over 100 youth annually in outdoor activities through a volunteer-driven model supported by more than 60 parent-leaders who serve as trip leaders and drivers. Programs are open to youth aged 7 to 18 regardless of residency and require current registration and health forms.

Maintains records of volunteer-led trips through standardized trip reporting and collects and archives trip photographs submitted by leaders, labeled with destination and date to preserve program history and support evaluation.

Organizes outdoor trips with group size limits of 12 participants (including adults) for day trips and 8 for overnight trips. Trips depart from Lake Placid Elementary School and require registration and health forms to ensure safety and accountability.

Organizes multi-day hiking and camping trips, including two-night trips to Johns Brook Lodge and 4-day hut-to-hut expeditions in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, with meals and lodging provided. These trips are structured using a difficulty-rating system (AA, A, B, C) to support youth progression in outdoor skills.

Organizes and funds annual "epic" trips to destinations such as Moab and the New River Gorge, as well as multi-day "Super Trips" that have included hiking and paddling in Colorado, skiing in the Alps, and sailing in the Caribbean and Bahamas, serving over 200 high school students between 2005 and 2010.

Organizes full-day whitewater rafting trips on the Indian River and Hudson River Gorge for youth, in partnership with Adirondack Rafting Company. These trips are part of a broader calendar of outdoor activities offered at no cost to participants.

Offers a full calendar of free outdoor trips and subsidizes approximately 80% of the cost for exceptional trips, fully funding them for children when financial assistance is requested. Trip costs are covered through community partners, grants, and individual donors.

Runs adventure-based programs for boys and girls that include camping, rock climbing, white water rafting, mountain biking, and skiing, designed to build self-confidence and address destructive behaviors through structured outdoor challenges.

Hosts daily discussion sessions and learning groups to help at-risk teens process experiences, reinforce lessons from activities, and set personal goals.

Organizes weekend and holiday retreats that combine recreational activities like skiing and snowboarding with behavioral skills training, life skills development, and progress reviews for at-risk teens.

Runs a crisis intervention helpline (516-612-3922) staffed by professionals who provide emotional support, advice, and resource connections to teenagers and parents facing behavioral or emotional challenges.

Provides real-time, anonymous support via a crisis text line accessible by texting LEV to 741741, connecting users with trained volunteer counselors within five minutes on average through a secure online platform, with conversations typically lasting 15 to 45 minutes.

Provides residential treatment for girls ages 13 to 17 with emotional or behavioral challenges and operates transitional living shelters—Allan's House for young men and Miryam's House for young women aged 18 and older—to support life skills development and healthy communication.

Offers compiled resource guides and referrals to help individuals access alternative high schools, drop-in centers, education assistance, parental support, addiction treatment, wilderness programs, and behavioral health services during times of crisis.

Offers continued guidance after program completion through a formal mentoring program (Project HOPE) that pairs at-risk teens with young adult mentors under a social contract requiring weekly contact, and encourages participation in Shabbatons and Yom Tov programs.

Provides financial assistance for summer camp and other programs through a reduced tuition rate of $25 per week, with scholarship options and application processes to support access for people of all ages.