By Rachel Lightner Jorge Diaz first heard about Adventure Risk Challenge his freshman year of high school from two of his friends who had completed an ARC summer course. They spoke highly of the program and suggested he look into it, but it didn’t spark his interest at the time. It wasn’t until his junior […]
ARC Alum Winning College Debate Competitions
Gustavo (Gus) Garcia took the stage to read his ARC metaphorical poem “Another Layer” in July 2016, and he mesmerized the audience with his powerfully-delivered narrative. He discussed growing up in Merced, being raised by immigrant parents who worked tirelessly in the almond fields, and the social and emotional struggles of high school. Gus’s performance […]
An Alumna Shapes the Future for the Next Generation
Vannaleze (Vanna) Barcelos has a deep connection to Yosemite. For her, it’s a formative place where she discovered passions for the natural world, art, and education. She describes the Park as “magical,” inspiring childhood-like awe. A 19-year old freshman at University of California Merced, Vanna has had two immersive experiences in the Park through Adventure […]
Taking Risks in Sequoia & Kings Canyon
Giselle San Roman graduated from ARC’s Sequoia & Kings Canyon summer course in 2017. She went backpacking for the first time—hiking among the world’s largest trees and spending 15 nights under the stars. With her teammates, she learned to cross streams, navigate using a topographical map, and cook burritos in the backcountry. The Sequoia & Kings Canyon […]
Feeling Proud of What I Accomplished
Joel Duarte is a sophomore in high school from Dos Palos, California with a radiant smile. While backpacking to Illilouette Falls or rafting the Merced River, Joel exuded great excitement and enthusiasm for Yosemite. On the 40-day course, he shared that he felt much brighter and more positive on the trails and in Wawona at […]
Connections Can Last Forever: 2009 ARC Graduate, Maria Valdez
Maria Valdez, known also as Imelda, first heard about Adventure Risk Challenge from a friend back in 2009 when she was a sophomore at Truckee High School. Unsure at first, she applied for the summer course completely unaware of what her experience with ARC would bring. She was excited to be out of her comfort […]