Team Wilderness, a Jersey City-based nonprofit organization, was recognized with the 2023 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for Healthy Communities.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The organization, which serves urban teens using an experiential educational model to grow leadership and character through wilderness excursions, provided over 9,000 hours of outdoors time to over 550 youth throughout Hudson County in 2023.
“This award is great recognition of our staff’s hard work and dedication to closing the nature gap for marginalized communities that lack equitable access to wild and clean outdoor spaces,” Team Wilderness Founder and Executive Director Steve Cunningham said in a statement.
“Hiking up a mountain, rappelling down a cliff, and watching your first sunset from a mountaintop helps you look inward and shape who you are. Everyone deserves to experience that regardless of their zip code.”
The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards has been New Jersey’s premier environmental awards program since 2000 and are awarded annually to individuals and organizations that demonstrate commitment and leadership on a variety of environmental issues, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability and education.
“The achievements of this year’s award winners capture the essence of environmentalism in New Jersey and set a shining example for us all to follow,” added Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.
“It’s an honor to celebrate their determined efforts to protect the state’s natural resources and help others connect to nature.”
Team Wilderness’ signature programs include Wilderness Club, Photography Club, and Summer Treks.
In addition to physical activity, each Team Wilderness excursion is integrated with social and emotional reflection on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
In 2023, the organization integrated Compass Project, an academic coaching program that guides students from grade 10 through their first two years of college, and North Star Project, which offers a free short-term youth counseling program that emphasizes wilderness and adventure therapy.
