The Mission of S.E.A.L.

To be a mobile outdoors driven youth development initiative that utilizes "out of school time (OST)" non-formal education strategies to exponentially contact, connect, follow-up, grow, and pro-socially impact youth (ages 10 to 18) through meaningful, hands-on and mentored experiences/exposure with earth/aquatic science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); so that youth will become adults who are encouraged to be stewards, survivors and supporters of the earth's eco-system - not only for our collective well-being but for the very future of the planet.

S.E.A.L. Project Eco-Educational Goals:

The S.E.A.L. Projects mission and subsequent goals are foundationally based on North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)’s Nonformal Environmental Education Program Guidelines for Excellence and the State of Virginia’s STEWARDSHIP AND MEANINGFUL WATERSHED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

1.    To use earth/aquatic science as a medium to facilitate contact with urban and/or rural at-risk youth in underserved communities through referrals from their school, church, or other organization in order to enhance their physical, spiritual, cognitive, emotional and behavioral well being;

2.    To connect urban and/or rural at-risk youth in underserved communities to "experiential" earth/aquatic science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning experiences, employment resources, and participation in youth led activities, such as those outlined in the section What You Can DO;

3.    To match trained 1-to-1 and/or group eco-mentors with each of our participant urban and/or rural at-risk youth in underserved communities, in order to facilitate follow-up support and guidance that will used to enhance the mentees personal and academic development, resiliency and pro-social performance; 

4.    To use our tax exempt 501(c)3 status to grow our organization and enhance our ability to acquire and leverage additional environmental/ outdoors based services, supports and funding for urban and/or rural at-risk youth in underserved communities;

5.    To use Jacobs and Weiss’ five-tier evaluation model to conduct an assessment of the S.E.A.L. Projects needs and assets, ensure accountability, improve and refine the program, quantify progress toward objectives, and demonstrate program impact among urban and/or rural at-risk youth in underserved communities.

About The Sponsor - The Resource Initiative for Safe Kids (RISKids.org) is a mission based, local community intermediary organization registered as a Virginia Non-stock corporation.  We are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and under Code of Virginia § 58.1-609.11.  Additionally, RISKids.org is listed with Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs, Dun & Bradstreet, and the Richmond Better Business Bureau.

Our Board is recruited from a cross section of business, health, welfare, education and youth service organizations who have a “servant leadership” interest and concern for youth in the community, our organization, and community affairs as a whole. All our board, trained volunteers /mentors and staff submit to criminal background screening.

Our finances are independently audited /overseen by Moya Accounting CPA; Risk management for all of our youth participants is chartered through the Heart of Virginia Boy Scouts Council; and we are underwritten by the Alliance of Non-profit Insurers - through the USI Insurance firm. We are represented by the law firm of Meyer Goergan and Marrs.