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Writer's pictureTim Nottingham

Reach New Heights – Building Confidence, Resilience, and Community




This past week, our Reach New Heights program provided middle school students not only with thrilling physical challenges but also essential social-emotional learning (SEL) opportunities. Through activities like climbing and team-building exercises, students learned how to navigate both personal and collective challenges, gaining confidence and emotional resilience along the way.


Growing Together Through Challenges


The heart of Reach New Heights is grounded in SEL principles: fostering communication, trust, and perseverance. Students participated in activities that pushed them beyond their comfort zones, but they didn’t face these challenges alone. Encouraged by their peers, they learned that real courage comes from taking on obstacles together.


As one student said, “I didn’t think I could do it at first, but when my friends started encouraging me, I felt like I could do anything.” These experiences not only build personal growth but also form the foundation of supportive, lasting friendships.


More Than Just Climbing


The program’s SEL focus extended beyond physical activities. Older students served as mentors, guiding younger participants and reinforcing values like empathy, leadership, and cooperation. This cross-grade mentorship is a key part of how we build a strong sense of community and belonging, helping students develop emotional intelligence that will serve them in school and beyond.


A Transformative Experience


At Reach New Heights, it’s about more than reaching the top of a climb. The program teaches students to overcome life’s challenges with the same resilience and determination. Seeing them grow in confidence, leadership, and trust was truly inspiring.


With every high-five at the top of a climb, every problem-solving moment, and every encouraging word from a peer, we saw firsthand how powerful SEL-based learning can be. It was more than an adventure; it was a life-changing experience.


A Special Thanks


This program wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and partners. We are deeply grateful to Vail Valley Cares through their grant program, the Eagle County School District, our amazing volunteers, Mountain Recreation, and Adventure Travel Guides. Your generosity and belief in our mission helped make this transformative experience a reality for our students.


A Bright Future


This year’s success was just the beginning. As we look toward the future, we can’t wait to continue this journey with more students. With your support, we’ll keep helping our youth grow, learn, and reach new heights—together.





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