Giving Hope * Doing Good * Developing Leaders

Giving Hope * Doing Good * Developing Leaders

As we prepare for the beginning of a new school year, it is glaringly clear that one thing is certain. The youth of Darlington County need us now more than ever. The school environment they were used to has become a thing of the past, while their social and emotional needs have reached new heights. The good news is that Cypress Adventures is here to bridge the gap!

This summer, we have been preparing for what we expect to be our busiest school year yet. We have launched a new program for 15-25-year-olds; discovered new adventure trips for our after-school and summer programs; and are preparing to serve twice as many students through our popular Youth Leadership Program (YLP). 

Since 2015, we have educated hundreds of talented and passionate individuals through our YLP and many have gone on to do big things. We are honored to introduce our latest initiative, The Hartsville Peace Tribe, founded by YLP graduate and Hartsville native, Niesha Smith.

The Hartsville Peace Tribe

The Hartsville Peace Tribe is a community empowerment group comprised of young people raised and educated in Hartsville who are dedicated to promoting peace and healing through peer guidance. Their mission is to offer outlets of creative expression to area teens and young adults, while exposing them to resources that prepare them for building quality lives. 

On Saturday, July 25, The Hartsville Peace Tribe will host a Peace Assessment Day to gather reactions, ideas, and solutions from area residents, ages 15-25, in response to ongoing social and racial injustices. Program leaders plan to use the assessment as a catalyst for developing an intentional roadmap towards positive change in Hartsville and other communities. 

The Hartsville Peace Tribe is currently recruiting like-minded young people to join discussions that can help identify critical needs of area youth. The Tribe plans to offer pop-up teen centers at local events as a way to connect and engage youth in community affairs. The centers are designed to represent a judgement-free, safe place where young people can process their thoughts in unique and creative ways. 

Despite the uneasiness in the world around us,

at Cypress Adventures, we are

giving hope, doing good, and developing leaders.