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