In-Community Delivery | Highly Interactive | Fully Customizable
Roots & Wings is a vibrant, hands-on youth empowerment program designed specifically for First Nations youth. This immersive 5-day experience supports mental wellness, confidence, healthy relationships, and cultural pride — while keeping youth actively engaged through games, creative projects, group challenges, and meaningful conversations.
This is not a lecture-based program. Youth learn by doing, connecting, creating, and reflecting, building real-life skills they can use every day at school, at home, and in their community.
Who This Program Is For
- First Nations youth
- Youth experiencing confidence, social, or emotional challenges
- Youth navigating peer pressure, bullying, or relationship issues
- School-based, prevention, wellness, Jordan’s Principle, and youth programs
- Youth with no prior program or workshop experience
The program is delivered in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment, meeting youth where they are.
Program Overview
Roots & Wings is built around the idea that youth need both:
- Strong roots — a sense of identity, belonging, values, and support
- Strong wings — confidence, resilience, coping skills, and leadership
Over five days, participants explore who they are, how they relate to others, and how to navigate challenges in healthy ways — while building pride in themselves and their community.
What Youth Will Gain
Through interactive activities and guided discussions, youth develop:
- Confidence and coping skills
- Healthy boundaries
- Bullying prevention strategies
- Mental health and emotional wellness tools
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Social skills and healthy relationships
- Boundary setting and respectful communication
- Empowerment and leadership skills
Youth leave feeling seen, supported, and capable.
Key Focus Areas:
Roots & Wings intentionally focuses on:
- Mental Health & Emotional Wellness
- Confidence & Self-Esteem
- Social Skills & Healthy Relationships
- Bullying Prevention & Boundary Setting
- Empowerment & Leadership
These focus areas are woven throughout the entire program rather than taught as isolated topics.
Program Structure (5 Days)
While fully customizable, Roots & Wings is commonly delivered as a 5-day program, with each day building on the last.
Typical themes include:
- Understanding emotions and mental wellness
- Building confidence and self-worth
- Healthy friendships, boundaries, and communication
- Bullying awareness, prevention, and response
- Leadership, decision-making, and positive self-identity
Each day includes:
- Icebreakers and movement-based activities
- Group discussions in a safe circle format
- Hands-on challenges and creative projects
- Reflection and skill-building exercises
Fully Customizable to Community Needs
Roots & Wings is completely flexible. Communities can customize:
- Program length (shortened or extended)
- Daily schedules
- Age ranges and group sizes
- Focus areas based on community priorities
- Integration with school, prevention, or wellness programming
We work closely with each community to ensure the program reflects local needs, realities, and goals.
First Nations–Focused & Youth-Centered:
This program is delivered with an understanding of the unique challenges and strengths
First Nations youth may experience, including:
- Intergenerational impacts
- Mental health stigma
- Peer and social pressures
- The importance of identity, belonging, and connection
Our approach is:
- Strengths-based
- Trauma-aware
- Respectful and non-judgmental
- Focused on empowerment, not discipline
Youth are never forced to share personal experiences. Choice, safety, and respect are central.
Why Communities Bring Roots & Wings In:
Communities choose Roots & Wings because it:
- Supports youth mental wellness and confidence
- Builds healthy peer relationships
- Addresses bullying in a proactive, empowering way
- Encourages leadership and positive identity
- Keeps youth engaged, active, and participating
- Strengthens overall community well-being
It is a preventative, skill-building program that creates lasting impact.
Why Funders Support This Program
Funders value Roots & Wings because it:
- Promotes mental health and emotional wellness
- Builds life skills and resilience
- Supports prevention and early intervention
- Encourages leadership, confidence, and accountability
- Reduces barriers to participation and success
- Aligns with youth wellness, education, and prevention funding priorities
This program delivers clear, meaningful outcomes for youth and communities.
Outcomes Youth Can Expect:
After completing Roots & Wings, youth often show:
- Increased confidence and self-esteem
- Improved emotional awareness and coping
- Stronger communication and social skills
- Greater ability to set boundaries
- Reduced bullying behaviours and increased empathy
- A stronger sense of belonging and empowerment
Bring Roots & Wings to Your Community
If your community is looking for a positive, engaging, First Nations–focused youth empowerment program, Roots & Wings offers a powerful investment in youth confidence, wellness, and community strength.
We collaborate with communities to ensure the program:
- fits your schedule
- aligns with your funding
- meets the needs of your youth
