Who opened the door for you when you were 16 years old?

Think back to your first job interview, or the first time you went somewhere that made you feel small and unsure. Who was there? Who believed you could do it?

For many of us, we had someone. We had access.

But for teenagers growing up in towns like Darrington (pop. 1,500) or Concrete (pop. 800), that access looks different. They’re surrounded by natural beauty but lack the transportation, gear, or mentors to explore it. Career paths feel like something for other people - people from somewhere else.

This isn’t a failure of ambition. It’s a lack of access.

That’s why Glacier Peak Institute exists.

Watch the video below to hear how GPI changed what they thought was possible.