Founded in 1992, Trails Youth Initiatives (Trails) works with at-risk youth in Toronto, challenging them to become contributing members of the community. The charity wants graduates to be employed and volunteer their time rather than becoming involved with gangs, drugs, and unhealthy relationships.  

Teachers from schools in Toronto’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods refer students to Trails. The students selected are mid-range achievers, not the best students in the class but also not the worst. Trails selects new at-risk youth to join their program each year. Kids participate in the program from age 12 to 16 with a two-week stay at Trails’ camp each summer and a weekend visit once a month throughout the school year. 

Students do physically challenging activities including high ropes, yoga, skiing, and canoe trips. There is also training on conflict resolution, problem solving, resume writing, career planning, communication, and First Aid. Students can receive credit for up to three high school health and fitness courses.

Trails Youth Initiatives also offers fifth and sixth year programming for select students. As a leader in training, students work with a younger group of students. A sixth year, facilitator in training, is a paid intern who receives job skills and leadership training. After leaving the program, Trails supports students with an alumni mentorship program and distributed $151,000 in F2017 to help program graduates pay for post-secondary tuition.

In F2018, the charity doubled the number of kids accepted into the program, hosting 40 new students each year. A new cabin is being constructed to accommodate for the growth. 

Results and Impact: Trails Youth Initiatives reports that 90% of 2015 program graduates went to post-secondary school. Of this same group, 98% are giving back to their community in a leadership or volunteer role.

Of current Trail participants, 90% report that Trails developed their self-confidence and leadership skills. The survey participants in grade 7 said they have improved self-regulation skills, and 94% of the respondents in grade 8 said that Trails helped prepare them for high school.

Trails Youth Initiatives is a medium-sized charity, with donations and special events revenue of $2.1m in F2017. Administrative costs are 6% of revenues and fundraising costs are 5% of donations. For every $1 donated, 89 cents go to the cause. This falls well within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. The charity has $2.9m in funding reserves, of which $565k is donor-endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funding, Trails could cover almost 3 years of program costs with reserves.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Trails Youth Initiatives for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 27, 2018 by Madison Kerr.