Team Wilderness

What Team Wilderness does

Team Wilderness is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by former Snyder High School history teacher Steve Cunningham, headquartered at 503 Communipaw Ave in Jersey City, NJ. The organization delivers outdoor and experiential education programs to urban youth aged 12-20 from low-income and marginalized communities in Hudson County, with 79% of participants drawn from low or low/moderate-income households and 95% residing in Hudson County. Its program portfolio includes Summer Treks (multi-day wilderness expeditions including hiking, rappelling, kayaking, and backpacking in the Catskills), Wilderness Club (free after-school drop-in programming), Photography Club and Photo Camp (photography education with gallery exhibitions), Compass Project (free academic coaching and college prep for ages 12-20), and North Star Project (free short-term 1-on-1 counseling delivered via telehealth by a licensed social worker). All programs integrate the proprietary E.T.H.I.C.A.L. values framework and serve a minimum of 51% free or reduced-lunch population.

Revenue is generated across five streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring, 87% of dollars going to programming), corporate partnerships with firms including Goldman Sachs, Silverman, TikTok, and PSE&G that fund employee team-building trips, sliding-scale program fees ($55-$1,300 depending on household income), grants from foundations and government sources (Community Development Block Grants, Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services, NJ State 2026 Opioid Settlement Grant, Youth Foundation Jersey City), and signature fundraising events (Blazing-a-Trail Gala and Trails & Ales adult adventure events). Go-to-market is community-led, relying on referrals from a network of 17+ school and youth organization partners across Hudson County, including Jersey City Public Schools, Hoboken Public School District, Newark Housing Authority, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The organization was awarded the 2023 NJ Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for Healthy Communities and holds Candid Platinum Transparency certification.

Operational scale has grown from approximately 90 youth across six summer sessions in 2019, to 550+ youth and 9,000+ outdoor hours in 2023, to 600+ youth and 11,225 outdoor hours in 2024, with 10,906+ hours of programming delivered in 2025. Cumulative reach since 2016 exceeds 1,000 youth and 6,000 outdoor hours. The team is small (1-10 employees) with seasonal and part-time field instructors, of whom over one-third are former program participants, creating a self-sustaining talent pipeline rooted in the community served.

Name

Team Wilderness

Legal name

Team Wilderness

Website

https://teamwilderness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Team Wilderness is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Jersey City, NJ that provides outdoor wilderness education, academic coaching, mental health counseling, and photography programs to urban youth aged 12-20 from low-income Hudson County communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Outdoor Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI)

Keywords

• Youth outdoor education
• Wilderness experiential learning
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Nature-based education
• Community mental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jersey City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals. Tax-deductible contributions through their 501(c)(3) status. The organization states 87% of every dollar goes directly to programming.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Companies like Goldman Sachs, Silverman, TikTok partner with Team Wilderness to provide team building trips for employees while supporting the organization.
3. Program Fees: Sliding scale tuition for programs like Summer Treks, Photo Camp, and Photography Club. Fees range from full price to heavily subsidized based on household income.
4. Grants and Foundations: Funding from private foundations, government grants, and organizations including Community Development Block Grants and Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services.
5. Fundraising Events: Annual Blazing-a-Trail Gala with ticket sales and donations. Trails & Ales 21+ outdoor adventure events with ticket sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Team Wilderness provides outdoor and experiential education programs for urban youth ages 12-20 from marginalized communities in Hudson County, NJ. Programs include wilderness excursions (hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rappelling), academic coaching (Compass Project), free telehealth counseling (North Star Project), photography education (Photo Camp and Photography Club), and year-round adventures (Summer Treks, Wilderness Club). Programs are delivered through sliding-scale pricing and scholarships, with 87% of every dollar spent going directly to programming.

Product overview

Team Wilderness is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth development programs centered on outdoor wilderness experiences combined with vital support services. The core programming includes Compass Project (academic coaching), North Star Project (counseling/therapy), Photography Club and Photo Camp (photography education), Summer Treks and Wilderness Club (outdoor adventure), and Winter Treks (skiing/snowboarding). Supporting offerings include Partnership Programs for schools and youth organizations, Corporate Partnership for team building, and signature events like the Blazing-a-Trail Gala and Trails & Ales. The organization serves youth aged 12-20 from underserved communities in Hudson County, NJ, integrating outdoor adventures with social-emotional learning, academic support, and mental health services. Programs are designed with tiered pricing and scholarships to ensure accessibility regardless of income.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Compass Project A free academic coaching program for secondary school and college students that combines weekly virtual 1-on-1 guidance with monthly outdoor adventure trips. Supports S.M.A.R.T. goals, time management, college applications, and the school-to-college transition. Designed for youth ages 12-20.
• North Star Project A free short-term 1-on-1 counseling program for youth ages 12-18 combining weekly telehealth video sessions with a Principal Counselor/Social Worker and monthly outdoor group trips. Addresses themes including depression, anxiety, identity exploration, and self-esteem.
• Photo Camp An immersive five-day summer photography camp that teaches youth the fundamentals of professional photography with technical skill-building and real-world outdoor exploration. All equipment is provided. Sliding-scale tuition from $55 to $350.
• Photography Club An after-school photography program offering weekly lessons with monthly nature photography trips. Participants can display and sell their work in galleries, with profits going directly to student artists. $550 per trimester.
• Summer Treks A two-week empowering outdoor character-building adventure program. Youth engage in day hikes, camping instruction, rappelling, and a culminating three-day backpacking trip in the Catskill mountains, incorporating E.T.H.I.C.A.L. values. Sliding-scale tuition from $100 to $1,300.
• Wilderness Club A free after-school club for youth aged 12-18 running Monday through Wednesday. Combines outdoor-inspired education, creative exploration, homework assistance, life skills activities, and Photography 101 lessons in a safe, enriching environment.
• Partnership Programs School and youth organization partnerships offering customized outdoor trips and activities including hiking, yoga/mindfulness hikes, STEM hikes, rappelling, kayaking, photography hikes, history hikes, camping overnight, and team building activities.
• Corporate Partnership Corporate team building experiences that pair company employees with urban youth for empowering outdoor trips, offering mentorship opportunities and self-development activities. Partners include Goldman Sachs, Silverman, and TikTok.
• Blazing-a-Trail Gala An annual fundraising gala event that celebrates and honors community leaders for their contributions to empowering youth outdoors. Features honoree recognition, dinner, and networking.
• Trails & Ales A 21+ outdoor adventure event featuring a guided 4-5 mile moderate hike in Harriman State Park followed by a celebratory drink and brew pub visit. Proceeds support youth outdoor programs. Tickets $80-$85 per person.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of participants report increased confidence to deal with adversity in personal and academic lives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Northeast Mountain GuidingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Jersey-based company providing outdoor training and guided adventures. Has helped add rock climbing and rappelling components to Team Wilderness curriculum.
• Jersey City Public SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary school district partner referring youth to programs. One of 17+ schools and organizations in partnership network.
• Hoboken Public School DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner for youth referrals and partnership programs.
• Newark Housing AuthoritymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing authority partner serving youth from public housing communities.
• Hoboken Housing AuthoritymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing authority partner for youth referrals.
• Big Brothers Big SisterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth mentoring organization partnership for referral and program coordination.
• Hudson County Schools of TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnical and career education school partnership.
• Bayonne High SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership for youth referrals.
• Union City High SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership for youth referrals.
• Beloved Community Charter SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharter school partnership.
• Summer Search: New YorkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth development organization partnership.
• Women RisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWomen's services organization partnership.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Outdoor Afro: National nonprofit reconnecting Black communities with nature through outdoor programming, leadership, and training. Highly comparable mission of bridging the nature gap for underrepresented youth, though more distributed/community-event model vs. intensive expeditions.
• Latino Outdoors: National nonprofit connecting Latino communities with nature and outdoor experiences. Comparable mission of bridging the nature gap for communities of color; less focused on intensive multi-week wilderness expeditions but aligned on community-led outdoor access.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: National outdoor education nonprofit offering wilderness expeditions for youth and adults, including dedicated programming for underserved communities. Larger scale but overlapping mission of using outdoor adventure to build character, leadership, and resilience in young people.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit engaging youth in conservation service and outdoor stewardship. Comparable in building youth outdoor programming and environmental education; broader in geographic reach and conservation focus.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Premier outdoor education nonprofit offering wilderness courses for youth and adults. Comparable in instructor-led outdoor skill-building and wilderness expeditions; serves fee-paying participants rather than a mission-focused underserved demographic.
• Appalachian Mountain Club (Youth Programs): Large outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit running youth outdoor education programs in the Northeast. Comparable in delivering outdoor experiences and youth programming in similar Northeast geography; broader portfolio of adult recreation offerings.

Direct peers

• City Kids Wilderness Project: DC-based nonprofit providing wilderness expeditions and year-round leadership programming for underserved urban youth. Most directly comparable to Team Wilderness in mission (urban youth + nature gap), program structure (multi-year outdoor expeditions + academic support), and target demographic.
• Summer Search (New York): National nonprofit providing youth from low-income communities with outdoor wilderness experiences plus long-term college and career support. Direct peer in combining outdoor expeditions with sustained youth mentorship; already listed as a Team Wilderness referral partner.

Others

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit. Team Wilderness is already a referral partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters; both serve Hudson County youth from marginalized communities with mentoring and youth development programming. Comparable target demographic and partnership ecosystem.

Regional players

• YMCA (Northeast / Hudson County): Large national nonprofit delivering youth development, including outdoor and camp programming, to similar demographics. Comparable in serving youth from low/moderate-income households with sliding-scale access; broader scope across fitness, childcare, and aquatics rather than specialized wilderness focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/teamwilderness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/team-wilderness

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Team Wilderness