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The Play in the Wild! International Youth Intensive in Nonviolence brings youth from around the world into a supportive community where, together, they learn the skills and consciousness required to become peacemakers and leaders of social change.

This unique program offers global teens an experience of deep connection to themselves, each other, and the world. Training in Nonviolent Communication, Mindfulness, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Storytelling, and Conflict Transformation gives practical tools for the youth to carry that deep connection back out into their homes, schools, and wider communities.

Your generosity makes it possible for youth from around the U.S. and abroad to come to Play in the Wild!

 who might not otherwise ever get this opportunity.

Since 2006, hundreds of young people from six continents, and all over the United States have participated in this life-changing experience. This year, youth from Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Canada, the USA, and the U.K., among others, have applied to come to the October Play in the Wild! International Youth Intensive in North Carolina. To make this journey, they need our help. These particular students have limited financial resources and need support to cover their tuition and, in some cases, travel expenses, including visas and airfare.

Know that your contributions match the efforts that these youth make to get themselves to Play in the Wild! for this unique learning opportunity. During the time of this fundraiser, one student will be traveling by boat and foot so she can get her passport and visa in her country of origin paying with her own resources and fundraising effort over a $1,000USD in expenses. We would love to say we have her airfare from Thailand and her tution covered when she returns from her journey!

Our $10,000.00 goal will help cover:

• Full Tuition and paritial tuitions for 11 students who need financial assistance
• Airline tickets for 7 students who would not otherwise be able to attend
• Team support for students back home to create their own peace building projects and share what they learned at Play in the Wild!

Here is just one of the incredible stories of a youth sponsored by generous donors like you!

This young man recieved a full scholarship his first year at Play in the Wild! and here is what he wrote in his thank you letter:

"Play in the Wild! has taught me to connect with myself  when my needs are not being met and to connect with others when their needs are not being met through Nonviolent Communication consciousness. Through our adventures I witnessed the facilitators fierce love for us, which was confusing at first but now I have more understanding. I've learned the difference between less fear and fearlessness as I view it. Less fear is blocking somebody out when conversation becomes "too difficult" or when you view others differences as a threat. Fearlessness is diving straight into our differences and tearing down our emotional walls, like attempting to connect with someone who you might feel scared around. I wish that I can someday find the fearlessness that Catherine and Jesse displayed. Play in the Wild! has changed my whole outlook on living with myself, I now have the communication tools to empathize with myself and others. I've learned to accept the feelings of suffering as a need or needs that have not been met, and to search out in me what I am needing. My experience at Play in the Wild! was full of Love and Support and aided my self-discovery and self-realization, it was probably the place where I've actually felt the safest. We were encouraged to knock down walls and our defences to see each one of us in our own light. It's been two days now that I've left Play in the Wild! and all I want to do is empathize with everyone near me. Today I drove in the same car as my mother, and even though it was the littlest of things I was able to translate her intense need for my Safety and Well-being. I'm now an "Empathy First-Responder" and can somewhat see everyone in their own light, and past all the jargon. I'm Grateful for you. :). Thank you for your financial support."

This student returned the following year paying his own way entirely and continued on to meet the Play in the Wild! team in Japan to assist them at their family camp! Thank you for your contributions that make stories like this happen. Every little bit ripples out!