Wilderness Leadership & Learning (WILL)

Background:

Across America, many young people face limited access to nature due to a variety of factors. Recognizing this gap, Steve Abraham, founder, president, and CEO of Wilderness Leadership and Learning (WILL), established a transformative 12-month program designed to connect underserved youth with the outdoors while fostering leadership, confidence, and personal growth.

The Approach:

The WILL program—short for Wilderness Leadership and Learning—uses the outdoors as a “learning crucible.” Through hands-on experiences such as canoeing, camping, and wilderness exploration, participants engage in activities that teach teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving.

Over the course of 12 months, the program combines outdoor expeditions with leadership development workshops and community service. The goal is for participants to emerge with a clear understanding that they can “see it, believe it, and achieve it.”

As a longtime champion of the organization, Forbright Bank’s financial support and deposit offerings allow WILL to expand its reach and impact within the community. The synergy between WILL and Forbright’s commitment to the environment makes it a natural partnership that has lasted for years.

Results:

Participants in the program consistently report transformational experiences. In fact, the program’s attendance rate is nearly 90% with a 100% high school graduation rate, compared to D.C.’s 75% average from the 2021-2022 school year. One alum shared that the program taught him that “there is a greatness [in me], that I have a bright future, and I can do anything I choose to do by working hard to achieve it.”

By the end of the year-long journey, students gain:

Forbright Bank is proud to be a supporter of the organization and appreciates the trust WILL has put in the bank to serve its financial needs.