Purpose
LOOP NOLA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide positive, life-changing outdoor experiences for children and youth in Greater New Orleans. LOOP NOLA addresses the lack of opportunity for urban children to experience the outdoors. We nurture students' connections to nature by developing a sense of wonder at the natural world along with their social, technical and academic skills through repeated exposure to outdoor adventures over multiple years.
Methodology
Through our outdoor programs, LOOP NOLA is committed to making the outdoors and the activities it offers more equitable with priority on serving youth of color who have been historically marginalized. We create a safe and welcoming environment that allow youth to explore, learn, and develop a sense of belonging in the outdoors. Our goal is to inspire youth to create a new vision for their lives and actively pursue it. We achieve this core goal by providing comprehensive, ongoing programming designed to produce profound, life-changing opportunities with measurable impact in the following areas:
• Social and Emotional Skill Development
• Communication Development
• Improved Physical Health and Environmental Awareness
• Academic Achievement
We accomplish this through outdoor activities and programs that:
• Provide support and guidance under the direction of caring staff and role models.
• Expose youth to confidence- and character-building activities.
• Develop focus, responsibility and commitment.
• Cultivate self-esteem through a sense of personal accomplishment.
• Build appreciation for nature and create environmentally aware youth.
Who We Serve
LOOP NOLA participants are children and youth from ages 6-19 with the majority coming from historically underserved communities. A significant portion of our participants are students with physical or mental disabilities as well. Participants are predominately African American from Orleans Parish and a majority qualify for free or reduced priced school meals, a common indicator of poverty. Most of the participants have little experience with structured outdoor or recreation activities.
Consistencies
1) Everyone Belongs Outdoors
2) Respect Yourself, Each Other, and the Environment
3) Safe in Body, Safe in Mind