2025 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

A Wild 2025

Growing hearts for leadership through exploring Idaho's wild places

Our Season at a Glance

180

YOUTH ADVENTURERS

97%

FELT MORE CONFIDENT

25

ADVENTURES

1,970

VAN MILES LOGGED

Our Most Ambitious Season Yet

From high alpine lakes to whitewater rivers, Wild Hearts Idaho creates spaces where young women discover their strength, voice, and connection to community. In 2025 we expanded both our summer and winter offerings while serving more participants than ever before — and as we stand on the edge of our 10th anniversary in 2026, this year reflects a decade of commitment to a single vision: an Idaho where all girls have the opportunity to lead.

Watch our 2025 Adventure Season Recap

2025 IMPACT AT A GLANCE

The Year in Numbers

180

Total participants across the season

535

Hours of outdoor exploration & leadership

48

Girls on their first Wild Hearts adventure

43

Adventurers who returned for multiple trips

29

Different schools represented

97%

Feel more confident in outdoor & leadership skills

23

Volunteer Adventure Mentors

550

Volunteer hours of teaching contributed

25

Adventures from February through September

A Season of Firsts

2025 marked a year of bold expansion. We launched three pilot programs that pushed the boundaries of our small but growing nonprofit: fly-fishing trips with Women Fly Fishers of Idaho, a Backpacking 102 track for returning adventurers ready for tougher terrain, and an expanded winter adventure season.

We also made a pivotal investment in our future by purchasing our first vehicle — affectionately dubbed the Adventure Van. It eliminated one of our most significant recurring expenses, rental cars, and in its first season alone logged 1,970 miles carrying girls to Idaho's rivers, trails, and climbing walls. From the whitewater of the Payette River to the star-filled backcountry skies, our adventures took participants to corners of Idaho they'd never explored — learning to paddle rafts, tie climbing knots, cook over camp stoves, read topographic maps, and, more than anything, to trust themselves.

FROM WILD HEARTS LEADERSHIP

Letters to Our Community

Dear Wild Hearts Community,

2025 was extraordinary.

We set an ambitious goal at the start of the year: take 125 girls outside. And you — our incredible supporters, volunteers, donors, and partners — helped us absolutely crush it. We served 180 girls across our adventures, nearly doubling our 2024 impact.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. The real story is the 14-year-old who'd never slept outside before her first Wild Hearts trip and is now teaching other girls how to filter water. It's the girl who showed up anxious for a backpacking adventure and left knowing she's capable of far more than she imagined.

This year we also achieved a milestone we'd been dreaming about: we purchased our own van. In its first season alone it traveled nearly 2,000 miles, carrying girls from across the Treasure Valley to Idaho's wild places. As one participant put it: "I love the new van — it was a great way for us all to connect before we even got on the river."

For many girls, Wild Hearts was their first everything: first time camping, first hike, first night under Idaho's stars. We didn't just take experienced outdoor enthusiasts on adventures — we opened an entirely new world to girls who never knew it was possible.

As we look toward 2026 and our 10-year anniversary, I'm filled with gratitude and excitement. A decade of growing wild hearts. A decade of proving that outdoor adventure changes lives. We're going bigger, bolder, and wilder in 2026 — and we're doing it together, with you.

Serena Rasmussen

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends of Wild Hearts,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am honored to share an update on the momentous growth our organization has experienced over the ten years since we began in 2016. What started as a passionate vision has grown into a resilient and increasingly sustainable organization.

Over the last ten years, more than 250 girls have taken their very first outdoor adventure with Wild Hearts — totalling over 600 girls impacted. Our first pilot launched in May 2016 with a hike to Table Rock and six girls. In 2025, we took 180 girls on adventures ranging from hiking to whitewater rafting to snowshoeing.

Thank you for being part of the Wild Hearts adventure. Your support provides opportunities for teen girls to access the outdoors and emerge as courageous, confident leaders.

Erin Burke

BOARD PRESIDENT

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Hearing From Our Adventurers

"Wild Hearts is amazing — no, that's an understatement. It can't even be explained by words. The empowerment of these adventures really shows."

RAFTING ADVENTURER

"I learned that if I have an idea, I'm no longer afraid to share it thanks to Wild Hearts!"

ADVENTURER

"I now understand how little actions of leadership can cause a large domino effect — and that I am the best version of myself when I'm authentic and true to myself."

YOUTH LEADERSHIP BOARD MEMBER

ADVENTURE PARTNERS

Made Possible Together

These transformative experiences wouldn't be possible without our adventure partners who opened their expertise and resources to our participants: Bear Valley Rafting Company, Cascade Raft & Kayak, Commons Climbing Gym, Idaho Guide Services, Idaho Mountain Guides, Idaho River Sports, Idaho Rivers United, Wild Science Explorers, and Women Fly Fishers of Idaho.

Many Thanks to Our Major Donors

  • REI

  • Clif Family Foundation

    Clif Family Foundation

  • Stoel Rives

    Stoel Rives

Many Thanks to Our Sustaining Summit Society Members

  • Nystrom Family

    Summit Level—$2000+

  • Chris & Lori Ode

    Summit Level—$2,000+

  • Jack & Sarah Plane

    Trail Head Level—$1,000-$1,999

  • Bob & Marcia Beckwith

    Trail Head Level—$1,000-$1,999

  • Derek & Laura Honn

    Trail Head Level—$1,000-$1,999

  • Maggie & Brian Benedetti

    Trail Head Level—$1,000-$1,999

  • The Perry-Compton Family

    Trail Head Level—$1,000-$1,999

  • Courtney Murray

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Megan & Adam Daigneau

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Amanda Laib

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Katie Sedacca

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Mike & Sharon Burke

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Dani Jorgensen, in memory of my sister, Audrie Wiemers

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Tracy Darling-DeMarcus

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Heistuman Family

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Jordan Pascal

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Mathew Eardley

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Callanan Family

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Bre Young

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Vicki Stieha

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Hagler Family

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Aboussie Family

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Wiemers Family

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Sara Young

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Sharon Hanson

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Carol McLaughlin

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

  • Alex Aldecoa

    Base Camp Level—$250-$999

Our Board

Erin Burke, Board Chair

Carmen Weyland, Treasurer

Rachel Aramburu, Operations

Kelsey Selis, Marketing Chair

Scout Sorcic, Program Chair

Alex Aldecoa, Board

Andrea Rayburn, Board

Dani Jorgensen, Board

Emily Fisk, Board

Gillian Horn, Board

Jamie Lundergreen, Board

Pendrey Trammell, Board

Tessa Feemster, Board

Looking Ahead to 2026: 10 Years of Wild 

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, Wild Hearts Idaho stands at an exciting threshold. A decade of growth has shown us what's possible when girls are given the space, mentorship, and opportunity to discover their leadership in Idaho's wild places, and we're poised to expand that vision.

In 2026, we'll continue growing our adventure programming while adding new staff capacity to support our ambitious reach. We're also exploring adult programming—outdoor experiences designed for the mentors, mothers, and women who want to connect with nature and community while supporting a sustainable revenue stream for our mission.

Every adventure we offer, every girl who discovers her voice on a trail or river, every volunteer who shares their expertise—it all starts with support from people like you.

Join us in 2026. Make a donation to fuel our next decade of adventures, or become one of our dedicated volunteer Adventure Mentors. Together, we'll continue growing hearts for leadership across Idaho.

DONATE