While summer is often a time to hit pause, youth in PIVOTPoint WNC's prevention program had something else in mind: keep going.
After a full school year of weekly engagement in our after-school prevention programming, participants themselves asked to extend the experience into their summer break. This student-led push to continue programming during vacation is a powerful reflection of how deeply the work is resonating.
"I've made progress, and I don't want to lose that," shared one prevention program participant. "This is the first time I've really worked on understanding myself and how I react to things. I want to keep going."
PIVOTPoint's model uses the outdoors and experiential learning as vehicles for growthoffering young people consistent opportunities to build critical social-emotional skills through guided group experiences. Participants engage in activities that support:
Identifying personal core values
Setting and working toward action-based goals
Developing tools for emotional regulation
Practicing open, honest communication
These aren't abstract skillsthey're embedded into hikes, group discussions, team challenges, and intentional reflection. The goal is to support youth in forming healthier relationships with themselves and with others through lived experience.
At the same time, PIVOTPoint's staff have been investing in their own development. The summer months have been used to deepen internal capacity through strategic team-building and professional development sessions, ensuring facilitators are growing right alongside the youth they serve.
New partnerships are also helping expand the reach and impact of the program. These include collaborations with new adventure-based outfitters, additional referral sources that continue to diversify our participant demographics, and new ambassadorsboth local and nationalwho are championing our work and amplifying its message.
"This summer has affirmed that what we're offering isn't just neededit's wanted," said Executive Director Matt Nannis. "When young people ask to keep going, it means they're feeling the impact. And that momentum is what drives us forward."
To learn more, support our work, or explore ways to get involved, visit pivotpointwnc.org.
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About PIVOTPoint WNC:
PIVOTPoint WNCis a dedicated nonprofit organization based in Asheville, NC, with a strong commitment to amplifying access to community-integrated experiential mental and behavioral health services. PIVOTPoint empowers young people to build essential skills in resilience, self-awareness, and pro-social behavior through our accredited adventure-based programming, small-group facilitation, and restorative youth engagement initiatives. We proudly partner with local school systems and county agencies to deliver evidence-based care through accessible, community-rooted formats that effectively eliminate financial and logistical barriers for youth and families in need throughout Western North Carolina.
Contact:
Sean Haggerty, MSW
Vice President of Donor and Public Relations
seanpivotpointwnc.com
(m) 828-243-1427