Mt. Whitney
YBA was founded by Michael Young, a current high school math teacher and former wilderness program staff member, to help young people develop confidence, resilience, and strong friendships through wilderness adventure.
Meet The Founder
With 41 years of experience backpacking, Michael Young has been an avid hiker for as long as he can remember. He has hiked and backpacked across the country, including places like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and High Sierra Trail. Michael has worked for Aspen Youth Alternatives, a Wilderness School in Utah, as well as attended Spring Creek Community, a wilderness school in Montana. As a teenager, Michael participated in a backpacking program with the YMCA and a summer school backpacking program offered by his high school. He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and certified in CPR. You may have even seen Michael locally around the Kennett Square area, as he loves to get out on a local trail with his beloved dogs Cali and Wyatt.
Experience
Here at YBA, we believe that backpacking is more than a hike. It is an opportunity for young people to step outside their normal routine, build confidence, and discover what they are capable of. When people carry everything they need in a backpack and travel through the wilderness as a team, they learn skills that last far beyond the trail.
Why Backpacking
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