Purpose: Pathfinders-Community seeks to be an alternative and innovative approach to help area youth experience a brighter future.

Accomplished Through: Pathfinders-Community programming utilizes both our traditional outdoor experiential education model as well as expressive arts and community building activities such as group drumming, self-exploration collages, and community meal preparation. Components such as multicultural trainings and drug awareness presentations can be included and programming can be adapted to the needs of specific populations. Program times vary in length and session time.

Audience: Lorain County is one of the poorest counties in the state of Ohio. Rising crime rates, adolescent gang violence, and disappointing high school graduation rates in the urban areas of Elyria and Lorain have prompted area youth-serving agencies to express additional concern for the state of youth services and education in the community and to seek out alternative and innovative approaches to helping youth experience a brighter future. Common Ground is interested in partnering with area youth-serving agencies in developing Pathfinders-Community projects.