The First Trail Initiative
Helping Young People Encounter God in His Creation
The First Trail
Across America, millions of young people grow up surrounded by noise, screens, concrete, and constant pressure — rarely experiencing the quiet wonder of the natural world God created.
For many, the wilderness is something they have only seen on a screen.
The WILD GOD First Trail Initiative was created to change that.
This program provides fully sponsored wilderness experiences for youth who might otherwise never have the opportunity to explore, learn from, and encounter God through His creation.
Through partnerships with churches, ministries, youth organizations, and community programs, we bring young people into the wilderness for life-changing outdoor experiences rooted in faith, discovery, and hands-on learning.
These experiences are not simply field trips.
They are transformational encounters with Creation that often become spiritual turning points in a young person's life.
VISION of the First Trail Initiative
We believe the wilderness is one of the places God most powerfully reveals Himself.
The WILD GOD First Trail Initiative exists to help young people step away from the noise of everyday life and into the quiet wonder of God's creation. Through hands-on wilderness experiences, mentorship, and time spent outdoors, this program introduces youth to the beauty, challenge, and spiritual depth of the natural world.
Our vision is to give young people their first trail into the wilderness, where confidence is built, curiosity is awakened, and many begin to recognize the presence of God in ways they never have before.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Many young people today are growing up:
disconnected from nature
overwhelmed by technology and social pressure
lacking meaningful mentorship
struggling to see God's presence in the world around them
Yet Scripture reminds us that Creation itself reveals the glory of God.
When young people step into the wilderness — away from the noise — something remarkable happens.
They begin to slow down.
They begin to notice.
They begin to wonder.
And often, for the first time, they begin to experience the presence of God in a deeply personal way.
The WILD GOD First Trail Initiative helps create space for those moments.
WHAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDES
Through the support of donors and grant partners, this initiative allows youth organizations to bring children to WILD GOD experiences at no cost to them or their families.
Participating youth may attend:
WILD GOD Survival Courses: Hands-on outdoor skills, teamwork, resilience, and faith discussions.
WILD GOD Kids Day Trips: Short wilderness immersion experiences focused on exploration and wonder.
WILD GOD Weekend Experiences: Extended time in nature combining adventure, mentorship, and spiritual reflection.
WILD GOD Flagship Events: Large gatherings where families and youth experience the wilderness through learning, worship, and community.
Each experience includes structured programming designed to:
• build confidence
• develop resilience
• encourage curiosity
• foster mentorship
• connect young people with the Creator through His creation
WHO WE PARTNER WITH
The First Trail Initiative works directly with established organizations already serving youth, including:
• churches and youth ministries
• Christian nonprofits
• community outreach organizations
• foster care programs
• mentoring organizations
• family support ministries
These organizations already have trusted relationships with the young people they serve. WILD GOD simply provides the outdoor experience and programming.
This partnership model ensures the program is both safe and impactful.
PROGRAM IMPACT
The goal of the First Trail Initiative is simple:
To help young people experience God's creation in ways that inspire faith, confidence, and wonder.
Through these experiences, participants often:
discover abilities they didn't know they had
build meaningful relationships with mentors
develop a deeper appreciation for God's creation
experience moments of quiet reflection rarely available in daily life
return home with renewed confidence and perspective
For many participants, it becomes their first real encounter with the wilderness — and sometimes their first meaningful encounter with God.
SUPPORTED THROUGH GENEROSITY
The First Trail Initiative is made possible through:
charitable donations
foundation grants
ministry partnerships
individual sponsors
Each sponsored participant helps remove financial barriers and allows young people to experience the wilderness in a powerful and transformative way.
Organizations interested in supporting this initiative can help expand access for youth across the country.
Program Overview for Grant Partners
The WILD GOD First Trail Initiative provides sponsored wilderness experiences for youth who may otherwise never have access to outdoor exploration and faith-based mentorship.
By partnering with organizations already serving these young people, the program removes financial barriers and provides structured outdoor experiences designed to foster resilience, curiosity, spiritual reflection, and connection with God's creation.
Funding from grant partners allows WILD GOD to:
sponsor participant attendance
provide trained instructors and programming
supply outdoor equipment and materials
expand access for underserved communities
BRING YOUR YOUTH ORGANIZATION
If your organization serves youth and would like to explore bringing a group to a WILD GOD experience through the First Trail Initiative, we invite you to apply.
Our team will review applications and work with selected organizations to coordinate participation in upcoming WILD GOD programs.
Measurable Impact
The WILD GOD First Trail Initiative is designed not only to provide meaningful outdoor experiences but also to create measurable and lasting impact in the lives of participating youth.
Through structured programming, mentorship, and immersive wilderness experiences, we track several key outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
1. Access to Creation
Many participants are experiencing wilderness environments for the first time.
We measure:
• Number of youth sponsored through the program annually
• Percentage of participants experiencing their first wilderness outing
• Number of partner organizations served
• Geographic reach of participating communities
These metrics help ensure the program is expanding access to God's creation for youth who may otherwise never experience it.
2. Confidence and Personal Growth
Outdoor challenges and hands-on survival skills help participants discover new capabilities within themselves.
We measure:
• Pre- and post-event self-assessments of confidence
• Participant feedback on new skills learned
• Observed engagement during group activities
• Instructor evaluations of participation and growth
Many youth report increased confidence after successfully completing outdoor challenges such as fire building, shelter construction, or navigation.
3. Connection and Community
WILD GOD experiences emphasize teamwork, mentorship, and shared adventure.
We measure:
• Group collaboration during activities
• Youth interaction with mentors and instructors
• Feedback from partner organizations and group leaders
• Participant reflections on teamwork and belonging
Strong relational experiences often become one of the most meaningful outcomes of the program.
4. Spiritual Reflection
A core purpose of the initiative is to create space for young people to encounter God through His creation.
While spiritual experiences cannot be forced or quantified in the traditional sense, we observe meaningful indicators such as:
• Participant reflections during guided discussions
• Voluntary feedback about moments of wonder or spiritual awareness
• Follow-up feedback from youth leaders and partner organizations
• Participation in optional reflection or devotional moments during programming
These experiences often create lasting spiritual impressions that extend beyond the event itself.
5. Long-Term Engagement with Creation
One of the goals of the program is to inspire lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
We measure:
• Participant interest in returning for future outdoor experiences
• Continued engagement through partner organizations
• Youth reporting increased time spent outdoors after the event
• Repeat participation in WILD GOD programming
Encouraging young people to step outside regularly and explore creation fosters healthier lifestyles and deeper appreciation for the world God has made.
IMPACT GOAL
Through the WILD GOD First Trail Initiative, our goal is to sponsor and serve hundreds of young people each year, helping them step away from the noise of daily life and into the transformative quiet of the wilderness.
For many participants, this program becomes:
• their first wilderness experience
• their first exposure to outdoor skills and mentorship
• and sometimes their first meaningful encounter with God through creation
Each experience is designed to plant seeds that may influence their lives for years to come.