About Us
High Rocks runs award-winning educational programs for young people ages 12-25 focused on empowerment, critical thinking and leadership.
High Rocks Academy: From navigating a group through the wilderness to standing up for the rights of students at their school, High Rocks girls are making their voices heard, both out there in the world and here on the mountainside at the High Rocks. Staff work with the girls in many contexts, including: tutoring, group service projects, special trips, college preparation, college-level classes, and summer camps. In these different contexts, staff often occupy the role of “facilitator.” The girls are the ones who lead and labor, make decisions in a democratic fashion, and support one another to take academic risks and accept growth-inspiring challenges. High Rocks values a true exchange of ideas, where all voices are equally valued and appreciated.
In the Community: we facilitate youth, ages 5-20, to participate positively in the world around them by building their voice, leadership, and values through creative and service-oriented projects. These programs are co-ed and intergenerational, actively building students’ skills to work comfortably and effectively in a diverse group with people of different ages, gender, class, culture and background. Outreach to youth in the community includes programs available at Steele Studio, a youth center located in downtown Richwood, WV and the Hub, in downtown Lewisburg, WV.
Explore the World: High Rocks participants have the opportunity to travel with us to conferences and events across the country to see new places, have rich educational experiences and get their foot in the door of the professional world. Students have traveled to the state capital to meet with their representatives at Women’s Day at the Legislature and have presented as experts at both the Appalachian Studies Conference and the West Virginia National Association of Social Workers Conference. They also have had the chance to participate in events such as It’s Good 2 Be Young In The Mountains and Our Children Our Future’s Regional Youth Forums. We offer three to four college trips throughout the school year.
The Teaching Project: High Rocks runs teaching and development programs that give college students and young professionals the opportunity to expand their skills in teaching, community organizing, youth mentoring, coordinating small and large community events, designing service events, recruiting volunteers, and running a non-profit organization.