Success Stories

Another successful expedition on the Horton River, another group of young people eager to move forward with their lives. This year has been an amazing year, both in the delivery of the first fully integrated AYL Expedition, and in the effective follow-up and use of Alumni programming.

AYL would like to share three success stories with you, as your committed support has enabled these events to come to pass. As the AYL program has evolved, we have learned what works, what doesn't work, and what needs to be improved. While our goals remain the same, our philosophy has changed slightly and we are increasing our focus on providing in depth and timely follow-up and access to program funding for AYL Alumni who display commitment to their personal growth, career and leadership development, and working with other youth and their communities.

Here are snapshots of three AYL Alumni - from the most recent to a young woman from the first AYL expedition:

• Terrance Allen (2009), a graduate from this year's program returned from the program eager to move forward with his life. Terrance was one of three participants of this year's AYL Expedition who were identified by NOLS leaders to be prime candidates for advanced leadership training. Through our contacts, we connected Terrance with the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program. Terrance is currently working with the project to establish monitoring sites and to record bio-physical data from these sites. He also participated in a traditional knowledge camp, another aspect of the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program; his role was to act as both photographer and reporter to collect traditional ecological knowledge and traditional land use information. We remain in close contact with Terrance and encourage him to continue on with leadership and career development skill-building.
• AYL Alumni Noel Cockney (2006 and 2007) is currently studying Outdoor Education at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. Noel Cockney views his experience with the AYL program as the catalyst that led him to this path. With support from AYL, he has taken advanced wilderness based leadership training with NOLS and has worked at their Yukon Branch for the past two the summers. This year, Noel delivered a cultural awareness and participant background workshop for the instructors of the AYL program prior to the expedition. Next year, he may challenge the instructors course and exam.
• AYL Alumnus Christina Esau (2004, first expedition), with support from the AYL Alumni Program, went to Costa Rica to attend the Youth Challenge International program, where she contributed to local community development initiatives. She is writing a series of letters that reflect on her experience with the Arctic Youth Leadership program and how her participation in it has positively impacted her life. Christina's correspondence has been posted on our website, and can be viewed here.

With your support, we were able to assist these youth in connecting with people who can support their career and life aspirations. We hope you are moved by this feedback of the alumni, and that you know that your support is making a huge difference one life at a time.