YEARBOOK 2012 2012

OuR lAtEst lifE-chAnging YEAR At ExplORE AustinThis past summer, 116 Explorers, 25 Mentors, and 4 Expedition Year

Explorers were sent on 8 weeks of life-changing adventures. Challenges

were faced, tears were shed, summits were reached, and lasting memories

were created. As we hoped and dreamed, lives were forever changed.

We are proud to say that this year, our inaugural class of Explorers graduated high

school, and 100% of them were accepted to a four-year university. Our

first class of Explorers graduated from the Explore Austin program,

and of this class, six young men returned to complete the mentoring

life cycle as “Expedition Year Explorers”.

Expedition Year Explorers mentor younger Explorers during school, Saturday

Excursions, and Summer Wilderness Trips, mirroring their previous six

years in the program. These young men returned not to receive leadership

lessons, mentorship, and adventure, but to give it. In giving back, their lives

too were changed.

As we look back over the life of the program, we, like our Explorers, see a

more “grown up” version of ourselves. The program’s impact has grown

to include milestones such as: 96,000 hours of Mentoring since 2006,

17,000 miles hiked, biked, or paddled, 250 Saturday Excursions, and

30 Weeks of Summer Wilderness Trips

None of this would have happened without you. Whether an Explorer, Mentor,

parent, teacher, partner, or donor, YOU played a vital role in Explore

Austin’s accomplishments this past summer, year, and since that first trip in

2006. You have made this possible. And with the help of more YOU’s, Explore

Austin will continue this life-changing journey to Leadership!

clAss Of 2013LONGS PEAK TRIP

clAss Of 2013

The final Class of 2013 Summer Wilderness Trip as Explorers was spent

backpacking and mountaineering in Rocky Mountain National Park. The class

split the week between two different base camps. They spent their days navigating

and hiking from campsite to campsite, in pursuit of their ultimate goal - to summit

Long’s Peak (elevation 14,259 ft.) on Day 6 of the trip. In culmination of the

Explorers’ journey with Explore Austin, the Explorers, rather than the mentors,

led the successful bid for the summit, making it a transformational experience for

everyone involved!

AcEs ExplORERCLASS OF 2013

clAss Of 2014MOUNTAINEERING TRIP

This year’s Summer Wilderness Trip proved

to be the most challenging trip thus far for the

Class of 2014. In the past they have climbed,

biked, hiked and canoed, but this year they faced

unique and unexpected obstacles. The group

attended snow school during the first half of the

week, where they learned to stay warm, use an ice

axe and crampons on snow and ice, and put their

skills to practice at Black Powder Pass. The class

got an early sunrise start on Day 6 to summit Mt.

Baldy. The Explorers faced adversity on this trip

more than ever before - from taking on emergency

descents to evade lightning and hail, to summiting Baldy without two

of their mentors. In conquering the challenges nature presented, the

class grew as individuals and began to trust one another for strength

and encouragement. On the last night of the trip, each Explorer shared

respect, admiration and appreciation for his guides, mentors, and most

especially, his fellow classmates— his “brothers”.

clAss Of 2014

AcEs ExplOREREDGAR ROJO

clAss Of 2015CANOEING & HIKING TRIP

On their canoeing and hiking Summer

Wilderness Trip, the Class of 2015 Explorers

and Mentors paddled over 40 total miles along the

Gunnison River in western Colorado and navigated

numerous rapids along the way.  As 4th year Explorers,

responsibilities on the trip increased—the Explorers

were responsible for breaking down camp each morning

and setting up a new campsite upon reaching their

daily destination.  In addition to paddling and hiking

6-10 hours each day, the Explorers built lasting bonds

with their fellow Explorers while swimming, playing

frisbee, and just hanging out.  On the last day of the

trip, the Class of 2015 Explorers all participated in a

solo, where each Explorer spent 6 hours by himself in

the wilderness reflecting on their future and building

a plan to get there.  This solo excursion was one of the

highlights of the trip and one of the most memorable

experiences with Explore Austin so far.

“I know that I want to continue

to follow [my] path and work hard each day to follow my

goals and reach my dreams.” —Kamuel FranKlIn

clAss Of 2015

“I know that if I need help [my

mentors] will get me help

and give me a few pointers.”

—alex medellIn

AcEs ExplORERALEX MEDELLIN

clAss Of 2016MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIP

The mountain biking Summer

Wilderness Trip can be one of the most

exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding trips for

the Explorers and Mentors. The Class of 2016 was

fully prepared as the school year had been spent

training for their week on the backcountry trails.

In the daytime, they rode up and down hills in the

wilderness and biked through advanced terrain.

Each night, they arrived at a different campsite

to set up camp. Midweek, the class took a break

from the bikes and spent the day rock climbing at

the Valley of the Chickens. In total, the Class of

2015 biked over 80 miles throughout their trip - never

giving up on their goals!

“For me, this is a good opportunity because this program

has helped me become a better person in life.” – martIn luna

clAss Of 2016

“I started out the trip with a fear of going down hill, but as

the week went on I got used to it and had a lot of fun.”

– WIlber VIllatoro

AcEs ExplORERJUDE RIOS

clAss Of 2017BOYS BACKPACKING TRIP

This was the Class of 2017 Boys first time to spend a whole week on the trail. Rather

than head back to the cabin at night, the class spent five days in the backcountry of

the Tarryall Mountains. The Explorer’s practiced navigating and moving as a group,

as well as setting up camp and cooking in the outdoors. The first night was spent at

the campsite from the previous year.  The familiar setting eased the chilly night.  The

remaining three nights, the group set up camp in McCurdy Park and spent the days

hiking and rock climbing. The rock climbing tested all of the Explorers, yet each

reached the top of the 300 ft. McCurdy Tower in three to four pitches.  Overall, the

trip challenged the Explorers to try new things and push past boundaries.  Many new

memories were created and confidence was gained.

clAss Of 2017

“I challenged myself to my limits. I had a lot of fun.” –angel reyes

“We all did it. It was fun exploring by

ourselves. encouraging teammates helped

out a lot. this is an awesome experience!”

- Fernando ledesma

AcEs ExplORERANGEL REYES

clAss Of 2017 GIRLS BACKPACKING TRIP

The Class of 2017 spent five days in the Tarryall

Mountains. After a day of review, the group set out

into the backwoods to practice navigating and moving

as a group. The girls learned to set up camp and had

the opportunity to help cook one of the daily meals

(spaghetti for dinner was everyone’s favorite).   The

days in the wilderness were spent hiking and rock

climbing, and most of the nights were spent camping

at McCurdy Park.  The 300 ft, three-pitch rock climb

to the top of McCurdy Tower looked intimidating on

the hike into camp.  However, every member of the

Class of 2017 Girls can proudly say they each set a

personal best and achieved a new height they hadn’t

climbed to before. It was a day full of teamwork and

encouragement.  The backpacking trip pushed the

Class of 2017 girls to entirely new level, preparing them

all the more for another year!

clAss Of 2017

AcEs ExplORERTYLYNN COMBS

clAss Of 2018 BOYS INTRO TO OUTDOORS TRIP

The Class of 2018 Boys got a preview of all the activities they will be engaged

in over their remaining years with Explore Austin. The first half of the week, the

class learned to rock climb, rappel, and mountain bike, as well as hike to the top of

Bulls Eye Peak. Before rappelling, one of the explorers, upon learning what he was

about to embark on, responded,  “There’s no way I’m jumping off of a mountain!” By

the end of the second climbing day, he was ready to sleep in his harness, hanging

from the rock. They enjoyed pushing past their own boundaries and surprising

themselves with their accomplishments. Upon completing these daily excursions,

the group packed their bags and set off on a two night trip to summit Bison Peak

(elevation 12,431 ft.). They braved the mosquitoes, and learned to set up camp, make

their own dinner, and collect drinking water!

“aCes helped us be strong communicators. and it helped

us be excellent teammates!” – tony santos

clAss Of 2018

AcEs ExplORERJOSHUA ZUNIGA

clAss Of 2018 GIRLS INTRO TO OUTDOORS TRIP

After a semester of preparation, the Class of

2018 Girls set off on their first Summer Wilderness

Trip. The introduction to the outdoors trip gives the

Explorers an idea of all the activities they will focus

on during their years with Explore Austin. They

first practiced rock climbing and mountain biking

during the day, and returned to the OWA base camp

cabins at night. By the end of the week, the girls

took off for a two-night expedition to summit Bison

Peak (elevation 12,431 ft.). They set up camp, made

their own dinner, and collected their own drinking

water along the way.  This was a challenging

and rewarding week for everyone, as limits were

exceeded and fears turned into achievements.  One

Explorer wrote, “I NEVER thought I could see and

climb such amazing sights,” but she did, as did all

of the Explorers.  Many of the Explorers expressed

happiness that they didn’t give up and said the best

part was making it to the top of Bison Peak and

seeing the incredible view.

“the hike to bison Peak was very, very hard, but I made it. The view is beautiful…[I can see] things I thought were just drawings and not real.”—Paloma medellIn

clAss Of 2018

“I am really happy because I

thought I was not going to make

it, but here I am—happy and on

top of a really big mountain.”

– anahI gomez

AcEs ExplORERELIZA MATOS

“I learned to never be afraid

to be who you are.”—lInda Ibarra

ExpEDitiOn YEAR2011-2012

Launched in 2011, the Expedition Year

is the capstone year of the Explore Austin

program. As seniors in high school, Expedition

Explorers bring the program full circle by

becoming Junior Mentors to our youngest

Explorers. In addition to mentoring these

younger Explorers during Saturday Excursions

and on Summer Wilderness Trips, Expedition

Explorers also mentor twice a month during

school on the KIPP campus. They also have the

opportunity to be a Junior Mentor on a Summer

Wilderness Trip.

ExpEDitiOn YEAR

sAtuRDAY ExcuRsiOns2011-2012

sAtuRDAY ExcuRsiOns

ExplORE Austin giVEs BAcK

ExplORE Austin giVEs BAcK

“I learned that community service

is actually fun. We picked up trash

at lady bird lake.”

– gabrIel rIVera

ExplORE Austin pAthfinDERs cluB

A Pathfinder is a leader

The root “Lea” = path and “der” = to find.Pathfinders Club was founded in 2012 and is comprised of Explore Austin’s philanthropic leaders.Pathfinders make the Explore Austin journey to leadership available to a growing number of Explorers through their sustaining donations. Each Pathfinders multi-year commitment provides the financial support necessary for three full years of the Explore Austin journey for two Explorers. Through their generosity, Pathfinders Club empowers the next generation of leaders!

Thank you to our inaugural Pathfinders Club members—

Coalter & Missy BakerColby & Susanne DenisonGavin & Natasha GraySusan Griffith & Curtis FuelburgBlake & Ana Magee

Jamie & Mary Clare MatthewsAllen & Mimi SmithScott & Julia StarkeyRusty & Jennifer Stein

OuR MissiOnTo change the lives of underserved youth

through leadership, mentoring, and adventure.

2121 e. Cesar Chavez st. | austin, tx 78702 | T 512.320.8899 | exploreaustin.org