Wilderness Leadership and Mentorship for Underserved Boys

Youth economic advancement

Central LA East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley West LA San Fernando Valley South Bay Antelope Valley County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) Long Beach City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Young men from underserved communities in LA, particularly in areas like Long Beach & South L.A., face systemic barriers to opportunity, including poverty, unstable home environments, exposure to violence, and a lack of consistent positive male role models. These challenges often lead to disengagement from school, low self-confidence, and limited access to safe, supportive spaces where they can develop the skills and mindset needed to thrive.
Without proactive, long-term intervention, many of these youth remain vulnerable to cycles of hardship, including unemployment, involvement with the justice system, and chronic underachievement. R.M. Pyles Boys Camp addresses this issue by providing a no-cost, multi-year program that uses wilderness experiences as a vehicle for leadership development, mentorship, and community responsibility. Our goal is not only to interrupt negative cycles, but to cultivate self-reliance, civic engagement & a clear pathway to economic & personal stability.

This grant will support the expansion of R.M. Pyles Boys Camp’s free, multi-year youth development program, with a focus on enrolling more underserved boys from Los Angeles and Long Beach. Pyles Camp combines a 12-day wilderness leadership experience with year-round mentorship, career and college exposure, and community service. Campers participate in guided backpacking trips, conservation projects, financial literacy workshops, and skill-building activities such as archery, ropes courses, and outdoor survival training.
As youth return each year, they advance into specialized programs like our Voyager program, which is focused entirely on environmental stewardship, and our Trailblazer program, which emphasizes life skills, job readiness, and economic empowerment. Through a combination of personal challenge, peer mentorship, and trusted adult guidance, our campers build the confidence, leadership skills, and vision needed to succeed.
With this grant, we will increase the number of boys served, provide targeted support to youth from systems-impacted and low-income families, and deepen our presence in Los Angeles through expanded recruitment and local community partnerships.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will be home to more confident, capable, and community-minded young men—particularly from historically underserved neighborhoods like Long Beach, South L.A., and Signal Hill. These boys will return from Pyles Camp not only with a sense of personal achievement, but with strengthened leadership, emotional intelligence, and a lifelong commitment to giving back.
By connecting youth to consistent mentorship, real-world skills, and opportunities for civic and environmental engagement, we’re helping divert them from harmful pathways and instead opening doors to education, employment, and positive identity development. Over time, this work will result in stronger families, safer communities, and a more inclusive leadership pipeline across Los Angeles. Our goal is not just to change lives at camp—but to empower young men to be changemakers in their own communities.