Give and Go Global is introducing the Youth Mental Health Empowerment & Nature Retreat, a transformative 10-week program featuring a 3-day, 2-night farm retreat for boys aged 13–17 from the Bay Area. This initiative will serve youth from Richmond, Pittsburg, Antioch, and Hercules, aiming to enhance mental health awareness, boost self-esteem, and encourage emotional expression in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Each week, participants join a 60-minute guided session with licensed counselors to build skills through journaling and group discussion. Key themes include:
Youth will attend three outdoor sessions at a Contra Costa farm to experience farming, animal care, horseback riding, and mindfulness in nature. These sessions are designed to foster environmental stewardship, patience, and teamwork, reinforcing mental wellness through a physical connection to the land.
The program concludes with an immersive farm retreat that includes guided group dialogues, team-building exercises, hiking, bonfire reflections, and a service project to plant a Healing Garden. This experience is crafted to deepen self-discovery, build empathy, and strengthen community belonging.
Across Contra Costa County, many adolescent boys face significant emotional and social pressures that hinder their ability to express vulnerability or seek help. Cultural norms that encourage the suppression of emotion, combined with fractured family relationships and a lack of accessible mental health support, contribute to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and isolation. This project seeks to break these cycles of silence and disconnection by providing structured, trauma-informed spaces where young men can develop emotional literacy, practice forgiveness, explore their identities, and build healthy connections.
Community Voice and Leadership: Give and Go Global was founded by educators and mentors with lived experience in the communities we serve. The program is guided by community voices, including former youth participants, local mental-health advocates, and family mentors. A Youth Advisory Circle will help co-design session topics and guide outreach, empowering participants to become creators of community healing.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: This program is for everyone. It intentionally centers Black, Latino, and immigrant youth, who have been historically underrepresented in mental health and outdoor programs. Key equity strategies include free participation for youth with financial barriers, facilitators who reflect the participants’ cultural backgrounds, and sessions that directly address social dynamics in constructive ways.
Outcomes and Measurement: We aim for participants to report increased emotional awareness, demonstrate improved behavior, and participate in post-program leadership activities. Success will be measured through pre- and post-program surveys, facilitator evaluations, and narrative storytelling.
Sustainability and Future Vision: Give and Go Global will sustain this effort by training program graduates to serve as peer mentors and by establishing ongoing partnerships with schools and youth programs. Our long-term vision is to create a regional network of healing spaces for boys and young men, where mental health and community leadership are interwoven to build healthier futures.
County Served: Contra Costa County
Duration: June 2 – August 15, 2025
Participants: 40-60 boys (ages 13-17)
Wednesdays, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM via Zoom
| Week | Date | Topic / Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 4 | Identifying & Removing the Mask |
| 2 | June 11 | Healing the Father/Mother-Son Relationship |
| 3 | June 18 | Learning to Forgive |
| 4 | June 25 | Sexism and Respect |
| 5 | July 2 | Racism and Identity |
| 6 | July 9 | Dealing with Authority |
| 7 | July 16 | Understanding Mental Health & Coping Strategies |
| 8 | July 23 | Self-Image Psychology and Confidence |
| 9 | July 30 | Peer Pressure, Purpose & Decision-Making |
| 10 | August 6 | Reflection & Preparation for the Retreat |
Saturdays, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
| Session | Date | Theme / Activity Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 14 | Grounding in Nature: Farm orientation, planting, and mindfulness walk |
| 2 | July 12 | Connection & Care: Animal tending, leadership circle, and emotional check-ins |
| 3 | August 2 | Growth & Harvest: Group reflection, service project prep, team hike |
August 13-15, 2025 | Local Farm Site in Contra Costa County
| Day | Theme | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Aug 13 | Unmasking & Connection | Welcome circle, team games, bonfire storytelling |
| 2 – Aug 14 | Forgiveness & Leadership | Hiking, group therapy, healing dialogue, artistic journaling |
| 3 – Aug 15 | Purpose & Service | Healing Garden project, closing reflections, parent pickup 3:00 PM |
Together, we can provide the tools, mentorship, and healing spaces that young men in our community need to thrive. Your support helps create lasting change, one young leader at a time.
Partner With UsFor more information or to discuss collaboration, please email us at info@givegoglobal.org or call +510-399-4743.