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"At first I didn't want to come; now I don't want to leave."
This simple yet profound quote from one young participant in the Denver-based Big City Mountaineers program shows the breadth of experience--from troubled urban teen to accomplished outdoorsman--that is possible in the span of one week.
Big City Mountaineers. a nonprofit that teams adult volunteers one on-one with kids front less-than-hospitable urban backgrounds. is committed to providing a new start--in terms of greater confidence. self-awareness and problem-solving skills--for its young participants.
It was into this mix that I found myself recently, one of a …