This week, basketball fans are preparing their brackets and dreaming of the possibilities as we kick off March Madness. It's a season where anything can happen, and every team has the power to prove what they're capable of.
Similarly, our Sports & Adventure mentorship model opens doors for underserved students to discover their full potential through first-time experiences, physical and mental challenges, and character building opportunities. Since 2016, we've seen thousands of students develop key life skills through these experiences and become the young adults we know they can be.
Our Sports and Adventure mentorship works in tandem with our accredited class curriculum by giving students unique ways to put their character and life skills training into practice. Working alongside their peers in a safe and supportive environment, students continue developing key skills like:
- Teamwork
- Trust
- Accountability
- Communication
“A memory that comes to mind about Sports & Adventure was Capture the Flag. What was fun about it was when we got the teams and we all just worked together and were trying to figure out a plan for how to get through our mentors, like Ms. Anyea or Mr. Woods.”
- Tatiana, ATHS '27
By sharing these life-changing experiences with their peers, students gain both personal confidence and deeper connections to their Elevate family.Like Tatiana, Robert was also impacted by the connections he gained through his Sports & Adventure zip lining experience.
“We were all doing something that we were new to, we all didn’t really know each other as much, but we all kind of created a bond and a connection.”
- Robert, PPHS '26
In doing so, our students create core memories that are not only exciting, but also allow them to experience trust, teamwork, and character growth as a team.
As Brandon shared of his rock climbing experience, not all sports come easily on the first try. Through Sports & Adventure, students experience micro successes and failures that help them identify healthy risks, push themselves beyond their limits, and gain a better understanding of the sport.
“[Rock climbing] was definitely a challenge, and it also taught me lessons to be more humble because rock climbing definitely humbled me. I was a lot worse at it than I thought I would be, but it showed me that there are things that I can be better at."
-Brandon, ATHS '26
Hear more from Tatiana, Robert, Brandon, and more Elevate students by tapping the video below.
In the 2024-2025 school year, we provided over 7500 mentorship hours to 341 unique Elevate students. Hundreds of students served, thousands of memories made, all because of your support. We can’t wait to continue transforming lives as we finish out the 2025-2026 year!
To learn how you can help transform lives through the power of youth sports, head to our Sports & Adventure page.
