Coastal Carolina Outreach’s mission is to improve the well-being and mental health of teens through nature, connection, art, and education.
In 2018, my husband and I bought around 20 acres in Ash, NC. We were distressed watching children, including our own, spend an increasing amount of time in front of screens and less time outdoors. Brian and I have such fond childhood memories of outdoor adventures with our friends and family. While the world isn’t the same as when we were kids, being outside still has the same value. It has the ability to inspire, calm, rejuvenate, connect, and bring a person into the present.
We also know there is an increasing need for programs in our community that focus on mental health, meaningful connections, and learning healthy ways to cope when life throws us challenges. This not only includes spending time in nature, but art, education, face to face peer connections, and opportunities for quality family time and new experiences. Regardless of family stability or financial security, we want to have programs available that will improve the well-being and mental health of kids and teens in our community.
We also want to make good old-fashioned outdoor fun accessible for teens in Brunswick County! We are striving to bring simple things, like hiking trails, fishing, archery, campfires, arts and crafts, music, gardening, community service, and mental health education to be a part of the lives of teens in our community. The goal is to bring joy into their lives and a lifelong appreciation of nature and development of healthy ways to cope with stress. Thus the creation of Coastal Carolina Outreach, to help teens unplug and reconnect.