Denver Post: Your Hub Golden 3/24/06

Contributed by: Valerie Miller

What do physics and trigonometry have to do with technical rock climbing?

Just ask Mr. Willsea's 8th grade physics class.

On March 8, they attended the "Science of Climbing" course at the Colorado Mountain Club's Youth Education Program (YEP!) based in Golden.

Fifty students from the Platte River Academy charter school descended on the American Mountaineering Center (AMC) to learn how the application of physics and trigonometry can ensure a safe and fun climbing experience.

The students discussed the concepts of gravity, friction, and motion and performed practical experiments to determine which anchor systems produce the least amount of force on fixed anchors.

Then they put theory to test by climbing and rappelling on the Center's state-of-the-art indoor climbing wall. This was the first technical climbing experience for many students who not only learned to overcome their fear of heights but also learned how to cooperate with and trust fellow classmates.

The "Science of Climbing" class is just one of many outstanding programs offered by YEP! YEP! is a gem within The Colorado Mountain Club that has touched more than 5,000 students annually since 1999.

Enthusiastic and dedicated YEP! staff and volunteers, often with assistance from supportive parents, offer unique learning experiences for children in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12. YEP! programs are designed to facilitate an understanding and respect for mountain environments, foster student well-being through self-awareness, physical activity and team building, and stimulate interest in academic topics (reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and visual art) through mountain-related recreation.

Classes are customized to meet the needs of teachers and students and can be held in school classrooms, at mountain field sites, or the American Mountaineering Center in Golden.

In addition to school programs, YEP! offers exciting and fun summer programs for kids ages 9 - 16. During June, July and August, YEP! sponsors multi-day Introduction to Rock Climbing, Intermediate Rock Climbing, and Backpacking Basics courses as well as Mountain Explorer's Field Days. Financial assistance is available.

YEP! programs are funded primarily by generous donations from corporations, foundations and individuals. 2006 contributors are: REI, Youth Outdoors Legacy Fund, Pacificare Foundation, Lloyd David & Carlyle Cannon Wattis Foundation, Target, Golden Civic Foundation, and employee matching from IBM.

For more information regarding school programs and individual summer programs, contact Krista Javoronok at 303-996-2751 or javork@cmc.org.

You can help support YEP! financially by participating in the 2006 Hike For Youth community event, a family-friendly hike-a-thon on June 10th. Hike For Youth promises to be a lot of fun with hikes of all levels in beautiful Golden Gate Canyon State Park and an after-hike celebration featuring refreshments and entertainment.

Hike For Youth information and registration are available at www.hikeforyouth.org.

Rocky Mountain News June 6, 2006

By Janet Reese

Hike for Youth benefits nonprofits

Noncompetitive event geared toward all types of abilities

Are you eager to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails? Consider the Hike for Youth, a hike-a-thon Saturday at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, located 16 miles northwest of Golden.

You don't have to train for this noncompetitive event, which is designed for all ages and abilities. A desire to have fun in the outdoors is the only requisite.

Hike for Youth benefits six Denver/Boulder area youth agencies: Butterfly Hope, cityWILD, Colorado Mountain Club - Youth Education Program, FrontRange Earth Force, Mile High Youth Corps and Thorne Ecological Institute.

"We help six small, grass-roots agencies through this one event," said Shanda Vangas, development director for Mile High Youth Corps. "Proceeds will be divided among the benefiting agencies to support their youth programs."

Since the first Hike for Youth in 2004, the event has grown, with more hikers, volunteers and refined hikes, Vangas said.

"This year, our goal is to register 500 hikers and raise about $50,000," Vangas said. "We are making this a very family friendly event and hope to have parents, children, youth groups, corporate teams and hikers of all ages involved."

Philip Ferranti founded Hike for Youth. He funds this annual event through the Ferranti Foundation, which he created to support nonprofit groups. Ferranti lives in Palm Desert, Calif., and spends summers in Boulder.

An investor, avid hiker and author of several hiking books, Ferranti said, "I began donating money to nonprofits that help kids in the Boulder/Denver area. The more organizations I found, the more I wanted to support. I called an informal meeting of the groups, and said I would like to help. I had a good idea of a hiking-oriented event that would work, and pitched it to the group."

Before starting Hike for Youth, Ferranti initiated Hike for Hope, an event in Indian Canyons of Palm Springs to support women's cancer research at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif. "The hike-a-thon concept has universal appeal as a fundraising event," he said.

Hike for Hope raised more than $1 million in eight years. Ferranti wanted a similar event for Colorado, and Hike for Youth was the answer.

"In its third year, I would like to see Hike for Youth expand along the Front Range and the Western Slope," he said.

Proceeds from the event help to maintain trails, benefiting all hikers. Urban youths from Mile High Youth Conservation work on trail maintenance at Golden Gate Canyon State Park as part of its conservation-service projects.

"Money raised helps to purchase project tools, crew transportation, environmental training classes and habitat restoration," Vangas said.

An added value of Hike for Youth is the health benefits it offers participants. Ferranti discussed the benefits of hiking in his book, Hiking! The Ultimate Natural Prescription for Health and Wellness.

"Hiking helps reduce stress and clarify thinking. Hiking can help you dramatically lose weight, firm and tone, build cardiovascular and aerobic conditioning, strengthen muscles and energize your body at a very high level," he said.

Hike for Youth celebrates youth and the outdoors and creates public awareness for outdoor youth programs, Ferranti said. "It's an affirmation for helping young people."

Hiking trails in Golden Gate Canyon State Park wind through green mountain meadows, lush aspen groves and pine-covered hills with great mountain vistas.

Hikers can register for easy (2.75 miles), moderate (4 miles) or difficult (6.7 miles) hikes on the Burro and Mountain Lion loop trails. All hikes start at the Nott Creek Trailhead/parking lot at the east end of the park.

An easy hike is offered on a quarter-mile interpretive trail at the visitor's center. Specialty hikes are available for hikers with dogs, small children or accessibility needs.

Check-in time for those registered for easy hikes is 9:30 a.m.; moderate hikes, 9 a.m.; and difficult hikes, 8 a.m. All hikes end at noon for an after-hike party at the Red Barn group picnic area.

"Bring extra clothing, water, sunscreen, a hat and snacks," said Brenda Porter, CMC education director. "Hike volunteers who know the trail will be available to lead groups of eight to 10 hikers."

Hike for Youth registration

• Cost: $25 for adults; $10 for ages 5-17; free for 4 and younger.

• Registration: Online by credit card. Mail-in forms are available at www.HikeForYouth.org.

• Deadline: Thursday. Limited on-site cash or check registration is available from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on event day, Saturday.

• After registering: Hikers will receive confirmation and detailed directions to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Volunteers will greet hikers as they arrive at the entrance booth and provide parking information. The Colorado state parks visitors' fee is waived for participants. All hikers will receive a gift bag and are invited to an after-hike party. Hikers are encouraged to raise $100 or more in pledges for any of the six benefiting agencies. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers.

• Information: E-mail Golden.Gate.Park@State.CO.US.