Video: Recap of 2023 Inspiring Young Environmental Leaders (I-YEL) Marin backpacking trip

In April of 2023, while many high schoolers were comfortably enjoying their week-long spring breaks at home, the Marin cohort interns of the Inspiring Young Environmental Leaders (I-YEL) program at the Crissy Field Center trekked out into the backcountry of Point Reyes National Seashore for five days and four nights. Distinct hard skills such as map reading, outdoor cooking and activity facilitation were built, but the cultivation of leadership and self-exploration through overcoming challenges laid a foundation for a truly extraordinary experience. Interns rotated taking lead each day, learning to manage group dynamics and navigate the trails of Point Reyes using only a map and trail signs. Without any cellular service in the backcountry, these high schoolers took a deep dive into a more fundamental way of life that only few experience in today’s technology-driven world. Through long hikes and deep stretches, the I-YEL Marin cohort proudly presents their 2022-2023 backpacking adventure.