A mental health program born in Napa County is now poised to become a national model for supporting teenagers.
Per the Press Democrat, since 2018, the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga has hosted free, weeklong retreats in the Oregon Cascades for teens facing anxiety, loneliness, and trauma. The program combines outdoor activities with therapeutic group work, including nightly “candle sessions” where students share their emotional burdens in a safe space.
Former participant Alexa Clavel, who first attended after a lupus diagnosis, says the retreat became a “safe haven” that helped her navigate adolescence. Now, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is looking to replicate this success.
Executive Director Trent Yaconelli is currently working on a pilot program for next summer near Santa Cruz, which would expand the retreat to 150 children from across the West Coast.
