Osprey Packs has renewed its support of Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassador (MGOYA) programs that will enhance kids' participation in the Friends of Joshua Tree's Climb Smart 2015 event this weekend.
MGOYA programs work in collaboration with Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Police Department, in providing unique educational enrichment combined with wilderness experience programs for Los Angeles youth.
For the ninth year in a row, Medicines Global will take 15 urban youth from Southern California to learn to climb with world-renowned climbers at Climb Smart 2015. The Outdoor Youth Ambassadors will camp, and rock climb for three days, from October 16-18. They will have a chance to meet with National Park Rangers who will explain the importance of National Parks.
Climb Smart is hosted by Friends of Joshua Tree, a non-profit organization that serves to protect the long-standing tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Friends of Joshua Tree encourages ethical and environmentally friendly climbing practices. Instructors at past Climb Smart weekends have included international climbing “Rock Star” Lynn Hill and Kenji Haroutunian, president, Kenji Consults.
“In my 29 years in the outdoor industry, I have rarely come across
a project with the unique combination of virtue, service to community
and passion that Janice and Johanna Belson bring to Medicines Global and
Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassador programs,” said Haroutunian.
To complement the Climb Smart 2015 program Osprey Packs is providing the youth a high quality pack for their adventure.
“Hats off to Medicines Global and all that they do,” said Tom Barney, CEO, Osprey Packs.
With continued support from leading outdoor manufacturers like Osprey Packs and The North Face, Medicines Global will be able to continue to develop programs to get urban youth active in the outdoors, explains Johanna Belson, Director, MGOYA.
“Our motivating belief is that an effective way of developing the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and guardians of our natural environment is to offer outdoor adventures to as many kids as possible,” said Belson. “Rock climbing, camping, surfing, seeing snow for the first time, breathing the desert air, it's all unforgettable for these city kids and the ripple effect is infinite.”
Medicines Global is a nonprofit dedicated to inspire all adventure travelers to give back to the places they visit by delivering basic first aid supplies to medical centers and remote community run health posts. Since 1999, 17 expeditions have taken medical supplies to Nepal, Mongolia, Tibet, Guatemala, India, Ecuador, Siberia, Sri Lanka and El Salvador.
Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassadors encourage, educate & inspire their fellow students to experience wilderness activities. Since its inception, MGOYA has provided more than 1,000 urban youths with outdoor adventures. Medicines Global activities have been supported by: Go Pro, Red Wing/Vasque, The North Face, Adidas Outdoor, Avon Rent-A-Car-Truck-Van, Leki Usa, Keen Footwear Foundation, Staples, Horny Toad, Smith Optics, Mountain Hardwear Gives Back Foundation, Eagle Creek, GoLite, Isis, Adventure Medical Kits, Napapijri and Whole Foods Market, plus other members of the Outdoor and Natural Food Industry
The Medicines Global team is seeking sponsorship for its November 2015 Nepal Expedition as well as support for the continuation of Medicines Global's networking to adventure travelers and domestic efforts to “GET Kids MOVING.”
