Meet our Alumni
Student FAQ
Margot Bolanos wanted to get involved with The Woods Project because she wanted to learn what camping, hiking and backpacking felt like. She saw the upperclassmen at Cristo Rey bonding through the program and thought “what better way to create friendships than through discovering nature at its purest form, not just in images or in the documentaries my mom and I watched.”
Beginning with weekend trips her freshman year, Margot experienced so many firsts with The Woods Project. Many expected with outdoor experiences, such as the Leave No Trace principles, catching a fish, and camping skills. But, it was the unexpected things that Margot will hold onto forever – “The personal growth I developed in the Sierra Nevadas was definitely unexpected! The trip made me realize my our strength, intellectually as I relied on the gear in my backpack and our map to guide us through the woods. And the physical strength that allowed me to hike to a mountain top and the many miles needed to get to our destination each day.”
The Woods Project was my eye-opener to the endless boundaries of the world, as well as the grit that is part of the human spirit. This concept I have truly taken to heart and has inspired me to pursue an Environmental Science and International Relations studies at the University of Chicago.
Davion Zeno first got involved with The Woods Project as a sophomore at Heights High School, when he decided to push himself beyond his comfort zone and embark on his first hiking trip. His fondest memory is admiring the views of Lake Tahoe after spending an entire day summiting Mount Tallac in Donner Pass. “If I could do this,” he remembers thinking, “I can do anything.”
Davion “catapulted off” this experience, taking on many more trips and eventually becoming president of The Woods Project club at his school. It was also through The Woods Project that he was nominated for the Posse Scholarship, a pre-collegiate training model that seeks to identify individuals with extraordinary leadership potential. Davion graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021. “The Woods Project got me really inspired about the environment,” he says. “It really became a passion.” Now that he has completed his undergraduate studies, Davion is now considering pursuing a law degree, with aspirations in the fields of business, politics, law, or entertainment. Whatever path he chooses, Davion is resolved to spreading good throughout the world. “My biggest goal in life is to bring about systemic change. I want to give back to people who have been disenfranchised and marginalized. The greatest thing about The Woods Project is that you really get a chance to open your eyes to many different avenues of how to become what you want to become.”
Emmanuel “Manny” Salas graduated from Colby College as a Posse Scholar in 2021 with a major in Geology and minors in Computer Science and Environmental Studies. He is currently conducting research on deforestation within protected areas of the Amazon Rainforest, identifying hot-spots and leading causes of forest change. Manny recalls, “Throughout the years, I have heavily relied on the traits and abilities that are the focus of TWP programming. As a low-income student of color attending a private and predominately white and institution located in central Maine, I was in an entirely different environment that what I was used to. While there, I began to explore topics of racism, inequality, mental health, and many others, that I normally would have difficulty discussing. These hard topics were never something I read from a textbook, but ones that had real-life experiences tied to them. As I grew as an individual, I relied more on my adaptability, social intelligence, and critical thinking. Additionally, my independence, curiosity, and environmental awareness grew as I learned more and more about threats to the environment and what I could personally do about it. But most importantly, the ability that I relied on the most was grit and perseverance. College was some of the most difficult and challenging years of my life. After experiencing culture shock, failure, rejection, grief, and mental health challenges, I never gave up or admitted defeat. Looking towards the future, I hope to keep these abilities with me no matter what my next step in life will be.
The Woods Project is a nonprofit organization that prepares students for college and beyond by developing life and leadership skills through wilderness exploration and education. We achieve our goal through an after-school program, weekend outings and a 2-week summer trip. Our focus is on working with low-income students and we partner with many different schools in the Houston area. Go here to learn more.
Students can participate in the after-school program and weekend programs at no cost. There is a cost associated with attending the summer program. Students on the Free/Reduced Lunch Program pay not more than $675 to attend the summer trip. Most of our schools offer fundraising opportunities to help offset the cost, and TWP has some ability to offer need-based scholarships, so the total amount you owe will depend on the school you attend. If the financial commitment is a concern to you and your family, please get in touch with your school TWP contact to explore fundraising opportunities. If you are not on the Free/Reduced Lunch program, please Contact Us for more information.
If you attend one of our partner schools, you just need to speak to the teacher or administrator in charge of The Woods Project at your school. Here is our list of recent and current school partners. If your school is not currently a partner, we recommend you talking with a teacher or an administrator about The Woods Project and having them Contact Us if they’re interested in participating.
No problem! We will provide all of the equipment necessary at no extra cost and have trained staff that will make sure you have a fun and safe experience. Most of the students who participate in our programming have never camped before joining The Woods Project.
Please see the packing list links on this page for weekend trips and for the summer trip. Please also take weather conditions into consideration – if you’re going out on a particularly cold weekend, make sure to bring enough warm clothes. Remember that we will be outside most of the day, so the weather may feel different to you out in the woods than it does in the city.
The Woods Project provides all of the equipment at no extra cost. The packing lists include all of the items that you will need to bring with you.
Our goals at The Woods Project are for you to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people and develop stronger confidence and leadership skills. We find that these outcomes are best achieved unplugged and away from our cell phones. We ask teachers to collect cell phones and other electronics at the beginning of the trip and return them to students at the end of the trip. Most of our students enjoy the break from their cell phones during our trips, and we think you will too. Leaders do always carry phones in case of an emergency.
Every trip is different. Some typical activities include hiking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, backpacking, trail restoration, cooking and more. See our Program Calendar for descriptions of our upcoming trips.
The Woods Project provides all of the food you will need on the trip. If you have a specific food restriction or allergy, please make sure to indicate that on the medical portion of the student application so we can plan accordingly.
Send us a message through our Contact Us form or through our Facebook or Instagram page.
