Our Mission
WILL's mission is to help DC teens be successful and create
full and meaningful lives, no matter what circumstances they
face, by providing unique growth experiences and learning
opportunities that inspire and assist young men and women
to make good decisions, become leaders, and achieve their
goals.
Our Vision
- Using “living” classrooms in wilderness and
community settings to build self-esteem, self-reliance,
and confidence;
- Encouraging teens to push beyond perceived limitations;
- Emphasizing respect for self, respect for others and
the environment, and responsibility;
Teaching WILL members to work as a team, trust one another,
act with integrity, and the importance of communication,
and accountability and commitment to one’s word;
- Fostering a life-long curiosity to learn about each other,
the arts, the environment, and the world in which we live;
and
- Understanding that we can be positive agents of change
in our own lives and in our communities.
Our Value
Through living classrooms in wilderness and urban settings,
WILL provides unique growth experiences and learning opportunities
which are generally under-emphasized or not taught in the
core curricula offered in schools.
The four pillars on which WILL bases its programs
(curriculum) are:
- WILL helps young adults push beyond their own perceived
limitations and enhances individual leadership potential
- WILL assists in the development of critical life skills,
both hard (i.e. nutrition, conservation) and soft (i.e.
goal setting, teamwork, accountability, commitment)
- Through teaching Leave No Trace ethics and first hand
experiences, WILL helps young adults become better stewards
of the world around them
- WILL exposes young adults to new cultures and ways of
thinking, teaching them to appreciate and be receptive to
diverse perspectives
Leadership and Self-Empowerment
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Critical Life Skills
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Environmental Awareness
& Stewardship
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Cultural Awareness &
Appreciation
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"At WILL, we believe in
unlimited horizons."
— Steve Abraham, founder
(and photographer)
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THERE ARE NO CAN’Ts
IN WILL
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