At a time when the government continues to divest in our national forests, green economies, and youth programming, change is urgently needed. At Creative Capitol, we were motivated to create a space where young people of color, who are often excluded from environmental decision-making, can connect with public lands, contribute to their care, and imagine themselves as part of a future rooted in sustainability and justice.
Turning an Idea into Action
We envisioned a youth-centered environmental camping trip—a chance for Chicago teens to step away from city life, challenge stereotypes about who “belongs” outdoors, and connect deeply with the natural world.
The idea began taking shape during a casual dinner conversation with Bill Neff, the Head of Marketing at YETI. After hearing our vision, Neff immediately offered his support. From there, key partners came on board:
- U.S. Forest Service — guided stewardship activities and provided wilderness expertise
- Bus for Outdoor Access & Training (BOAT) — ensured safe transportation & smooth camping experience
- Faith in Place’s Eco-Ambassadors — brought together the youth participants (ages 14–18)
- Jaylyn Gough, professional wilderness photographer and founder of Native Women’s Wilderness — led creative photography workshops
A 4-Day Immersive Experience in Manistee National Forest
In the summer of 2025, the camping trip itself opened a space for genuine connections. As youth coming from a busy urban life, like the one most have in Chicago, there’s hardly time to decompress and reconnect with the Earth around us. For these youth, who felt that the city life can sometimes force one to mature at a young age, this trip offered an opportunity to engage with nature in ways they hadn’t been able to experience before. One of our youth stating that “It was the first time in a long time I felt like I could just be a kid again”, after finishing the camping experience.
Photography as a Tool for Belonging
Each youth received YETI water bottles, backpacks, and Olympic TS6 digital cameras from Urban Connections, giving them the tools to explore and document the forest through their own lens. Under Jaylyn Gough’s guidance, they learned the basics of nature photography, composition, and visual storytelling, turning the forest into both a classroom and a creative studio.
To make it exciting, we framed it as a YETI Photography Competition: capture the YETI in a way that best reflects the theme of belonging outdoors.
The Winning Shot
Over the course of the trip, the youth produced stunning images, some from perspectives and angles we hadn’t even considered. Creative Capitol organized a powerhouse selection committee consisting of representatives from YETI, U.S Forest Service, and Native Women’s Wilderness. We then invited Calid Bowen, Creative Director at Golin, to cast the winning vote and break the tie. After much deliberation, we’re proud to announce the winning photo, perfectly embodying the spirit of the trip.
As part of the prize, the winning photographers will receive a personalized YETI care package filled with outdoor gear and merchandise.
Beyond the Trip
We intend for this camping trip, or rather outdoor media campaign, will produce lasting outcomes such as increased social cohesion among participants, greater cross-community understanding of public lands, and strengthened networks of youth leadership. Beyond the trip, youth will stay connected through follow-up gatherings, digital storytelling platforms, and environmental advocacy campaigns, multiplying the project’s impact. We even partnered with youth illustrator, Joshua Pleasure, to recreate a digital rendition of the photo, adding graphic design components to the project.
Your Turn: Submit a Yeti Photo
We invite you to join the movement! Submit your own photo and share what belonging in nature looks like to you. Whether it’s in a forest preserve, a city park, or your own backyard, these moments help us redefine the outdoors as a space where everyone belongs. Together, we can challenge stereotypes, expand narratives, and celebrate the simple joy of finding ourselves, YETI and all, out in nature.
If you’re interested in hosting your own creative workshop, Creative Capitol is here to help. It can be for the youth or the Chicago community at large. Partner with us today and get started on an initiative with long lasting affects.
