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WILD scholars referral partners

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Three men standing together indoors with open doors and windows behind them, smiling for a group photo at a social gathering.

Three men standing together inside a house near a glass door, smiling for the camera. The man on the left is wearing a dark patterned shirt and khaki pants, the middle man has dark hair, a beard, and is wearing a brown shirt, and the man on the right has glasses, a beard, and is wearing a light gray polo shirt. In the background, two women and some outdoor furniture are visible through the glass door.

Referral partners are integral to the WILD Scholars Program.

This network of caring and trusted adults - mostly teachers, coaches, and other organization staff - connects eligible teenagers to Back to Earth and the WILD summer program by nominating them for the scholarship opportunity.

In addition to a full scholarship for a summer backpacking trip, WILD Scholars participate in several day long programs throughout the spring to prepare them for the summer, and receive focused one-on-one support to create a success plan for the summer.

know someone?

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Three people sitting outdoors in a rocky and grassy area with green trees and a rugged mountain behind them. One man with long hair and a sleeveless shirt shows something to a young boy wearing a hat, while another young girl with dark hair looks on.

If you work with and want to connect teens in your life to this program, become a referral partner!

Get in touch with Program Manager Mark Sanchez to learn more!

MarkSanchez@BackToEarth.org

Any other questions contact us here:

Contact us

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what am i
committing to?

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A group of people gathered around a campfire in a mountainous forest, with tents pitched among rocks and trees, during dusk.

A group of people sitting in camping chairs around a campfire outdoors in a mountainous forest area at dusk, with tents nearby.

In becoming a Back to Earth referral partner, you commit to two things:

First, you commit to identifying and nominating teens who could benefit from the social, intellectual, and emotional richness of a summer WILD adventure, and from the peer community, mentor support, and ongoing connection with Back to Earth that comes with being part of the WILD Scholars Program. You don’t have to identify many candidates - one or two per year is fine.

Second, you commit to support your nominees through the application process and to remain a point of contact for Back to Earth, to ensure that scholars who you nominated stay fully engaged throughout the program.

Two young men posing on snow-covered ground in a mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky. One is making a peace sign with both hands, and the other is holding his hand over his chest. They are dressed in casual outdoor clothing, including hoodies, sweatpants, and hiking boots.

Two young men standing on snow-covered ground with mountains in the background, wearing casual outdoor clothing, one making a peace sign and the other making a rock and roll hand gesture.

Two young men smiling and posing outdoors in a mountain landscape with trees, rocky mountains, and a cloudy blue sky.

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each scholarship includes

A panoramic landscape photo of a lake with a mountain in the background and trees in the foreground.

All expenses covered for one of our 10 day rites of passage backpacking trips in summer of 2025.

All the gear and equipment needed.

One on One support and communication for participants and families.

Two day-long prep sessions with the full WILD Scholars cohort before the trip.

Ongoing mentorship and leadership opportunities.

A male teacher and two boys wearing face masks, standing in front of a classroom whiteboard and screen showing a PowerPoint slide discussing cost and tuition assistance, all giving thumbs-up.

Three boys in a classroom giving thumbs-up while standing in front of a whiteboard and a presentation slide about 'Cost & Tuition Assistance.' All are wearing masks and casual clothing.

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why WILD scholars?

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A group of people camping outdoors around a campfire with mountains and trees in the background. They are sitting on the ground or small chairs, wearing outdoor clothing and hats.

Group of five hikers sitting around a small campfire in a wooded area with mountains in the background.

2026 marks our 12th season of WILD.

While expanding access to wilderness has always been core to our mission, the WILD Scholars program represents a shift in our thinking about what is required to accomplish this goal. Rather than just providing tuition assistance, we’ve come to think of access largely in terms of relationship building and the cultivation of trust that allows teens to step fully into their summer experience.

It’s a big leap for most teens to step away from their familiar lives into the mystery of the wilderness. For participants whose families are less involved in the choice to register for WILD, or who have less exposure to camping and backpacking, or are not in a financial position to incur even the relatively small costs of gathering things on the packing list, that leap becomes even bigger. The WILD Scholars Program is designed to help young people to take that leap and feel confident that they’re going to be held at every step of the way.