growth doesn’t happen in a waiting room. It happens on a trail, beside the ocean, or under a canopy of trees — in the quiet moments when a young person feels safe enough to breathe a little deeper and stand a little taller. That belief is at the heart of Roots to Rise, a new program from Edgewood that brings youth wellness and enrichment outdoors. Our first cohort, the Fall 2026 Program, opens this fall, and we’d love to introduce you to it. What Roots to Rise Offers
Roots to Rise is a nature-based mentoring and wellness program
for young people. Trained, clinically supervised wellness coaches build consistent, supportive relationships with youth through weekly outdoor sessions and small peer groups — exploring parks, coastal trails, and botanical gardens across San Francisco. Think Glen Canyon, the Presidio, Fort Funston Beach, and local gardens: restorative places designed to heal, not clinical settings.
The program pairs the proven benefits of time in nature with evidence-based social-emotional support, helping young people build resilience, confidence, and healthy coping skills. It is a program of Edgewood — one of the Bay Area’s most established youth mental health organizations, caring for children, youth, and families for more than 175 years.
Why Nature, Why Now
Today’s young people are 
navigating a lot — school stress, social pressures, family changes, and the ordinary ups and downs of growing up. Not every child responds to a traditional clinic setting, and many simply do better when they’re moving, exploring, and engaged with the world around them.
Research consistently shows that time in nature reduces stress, lifts mood, sharpens attention, and strengthens emotional regulation — especially for young people. Even better, kids tend to be more open to support when it doesn’t feel like “treatment.” Out on the trail, with a caring mentor beside them, the work of growing feels a lot more like an adventure.
Built on Real Science
Roots to Rise isn’t just time outdoors — it’s a thoughtfully designed, evidence-based curriculum. It integrates three respected frameworks: Forest Therapy’s Liquid Interactions Model, Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, and the Neuro-Somatic Integration framework. The program is being formally evaluated for outcomes in partnership with Dr. Nooshin Razani, Director of UCSF’s Center for Nature and Health.
The journey is organized around five natural elements, each one a doorway into both the outside world and a young person’s inner world:
- Earth — safety and belonging: getting grounded, settling in, and feeling at home in nature, with others, and in one’s own body.
- Water — feeling and acceptance: making space to let emotions move through rather than pile up.
- Fire — finding power: discovering what you’re capable of, building confidence and resilience.
- Air — voice and expression: finding language for what you’ve experienced and who you’re becoming.
- Ether — integration and celebration: weaving it all together and reflecting on how far you’ve come.
How the Program Works
The Fall 2026 Program runs 
from September 14th – through December 14th. Over those weeks, each participant completes 12 individual sessions (one per week, about three hours each) and a series of small group sessions spaced throughout the program. A wellness coach typically picks your child up from home or school, spends time outdoors with them — often sharing a meal along the way — and brings them home afterward, filled with stories of new adventures and new skills.
The program is for personal enrichment as much as well-being skills development. No diagnosis is required to participate, and no prior outdoor experience is needed. Activities range from gentle sensory walks to art, journaling, and more active movement, always tailored to each young person’s pace and comfort. Roots to Rise is not a substitute for therapy or crisis care — it works alongside existing therapists, schools, and providers, complementing the support a child may already have.
Is It Right for Your Child?
The Fall 2026 cohort is designed for youth ages 10–14 living or attending school in San Francisco and neighboring cities. It’s a strong fit for young people working through stress at school or home, mild anxiety or low mood, social challenges, low self-confidence, family transitions, or a sense of disconnection — and for those who want more meaningful connection and a sense of purpose.
It’s especially well-suited to kids who haven’t responded well to conventional approaches, or who simply need a more hands-on, outdoors-oriented way of being supported. As we like to say: your child just needs to be willing to show up and try.
Cost Should Never Be a Barrier
We believe cost should never stand between a family and the support their child needs. Roots to Rise offers a sliding scale based on household income, and full scholarships are available. Transportation and all necessary gear — including raincoats and hiking shoes — are provided at no additional cost. If you’re interested but unsure about cost, please reach out; we’ll do our best to make it work.
Take the First Step
Applications for the Fall 2026 Program are open now, and spots are limited and filled on a rolling basis. To learn more about the curriculum, the five elements, enrollment, and frequently asked questions, visit the Roots to Rise site at r2r.edgewood.org. When you’re ready, you can apply today, email us at [email protected], or call us at 415.682.3217.
Connect to nature. Find your footing. Discover your path. We can’t wait to walk alongside your family.