Paying it Forward & Giving a Hand Up
When the public health emergency was announced in March, it was a scary and unpredictable time.
Many of our everyday stressors intensified while new ones came to life. This was true at Take a Hike for both our youth and for our team.
Yet amid the fear and uncertainty, and all the unknowns, emerged our incredible community of donors. At that time, John and Claire Nicola were among the first to step forward asking, “How can we help?”
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nicola family’s generous gift and ongoing support of Take a Hike created a lifeline for more youth than ever before, and at a time when our youth and their families needed it most. Nearly 70 per cent of Take a Hike learners reported negative mental health impacts due to COVID-19. At the same time, we had school district partners asking for mental health support for more youth in their communities. Thanks to the Nicola family’s early intervention, we extended Take a Hike services to an additional 67 vulnerable youth and their family members, with up to 10 counselling sessions each.
Claire Nicola first heard about Take a Hike Foundation six years ago when a letter arrived in the mail. “It resonated with me that somebody was getting these kids out and being active which is so important,” said Claire. “I definitely notice from my own mental health that being outside and being active makes a difference.”
As a mother of three grown sons, Claire connected with Take a Hike’s mission to empower youth through the outdoors, adventure and mental health support. "Raising three boys, and then learning about the struggles of some of these kids, it resonates,” she said. “School can be difficult, it can be like a round peg in a square hole and it doesn’t work for a lot of kids, no matter what their family or home environment is like, it’s hard for them.
“The important thing is that these kids have support, and someone to talk to, and someone who will try their hardest to keep them in school and get them through that, so they have a future.”
Education has always been important to the Nicola family and is one of the reasons they chose to support Take a Hike. John likened Take a Hike to “a second chance” for vulnerable youth, and he believes that the unique combination of clinical counselling and experiential learning is a “bespoke way of delivering education... getting results that are unusual and extraordinary.”
On a visit to the Vancouver Take a Hike classrooms, John and Claire had an opportunity to meet with youth and staff and to witness the transformative impact of Take a Hike. "We met a youth worker who had been a Take a Hike student herself... and now she’s working there and she’s so impressive - she just blew us away,” said Claire.
The Nicola family have always been very active in their community because they recognize that a big part of success comes from the support of the people around you, “giving you a hand up.” As a family and as an organization, the Nicolas’ see where the need is and where they can make a difference.
“That phrase ‘pay it forward’ is a big deal because you are not where you are simply by your own efforts, there were others involved in getting you there,” said John. “We’ve come to a place where we need to pay it forward as a family, and as an organization as well. ”
Last year, along with the Nicola family’s continued support, Nicola Wealth gave a gift to Take a Hike that helped to support vulnerable youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nicolas’ investment in our youth ensures they have access to intensive clinical counselling, outdoor experiential learning, and a supportive community committed to their well-being and success. We’re so grateful to the Nicola family for giving them a hand up in life, by believing in them, and investing in their well-being and their future.