Jay “Hawkeye” Zipperman felt something was missing for young people, especially young men.
Youth today are bombarded with pressure, not just in person but also online. Even with constant technology and digital connection, youth can feel incredibly isolated. And in some families, parents or caregivers are unable to provide the support children need to feel confident and secure.
As Jay helped run after-school programs like Passport to Manhood at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, he saw that many young people were missing support structures to guide them into adulthood.
“There are a lot of fatherless homes with moms and grandmothers having to raise children,” he said.
“Parents are working and busy, just trying to make ends meet. Expecting them to provide all the support and make all the difference is unrealistic in our society today. That’s why we feel uncles, aunts and good friends are so important to the success of a family.”
In 2003, Jay founded Mountain Wisdom to fill this gap he saw in the families and children he worked with.
“I created Mountain Wisdom to be a support structure for families,” he shared. “We’re committed to fostering healthy teens and families by providing fun-filled transformational experiences and challenging outdoor adventures focusing on nature awareness, leadership and responsibility.”
On private property in Ellijay, youth can camp, fish, complete ropes courses, kayak, paddle board, canoe and enjoy archery and axe throwing.
“We also do grief and loss work and anger work — what I call ‘healing work,’” Jay explained. “On the very first day, we ask the young men, ‘What mask can you drop so you can be real and authentic for the week with each other?’”
Mountain Wisdom camps aren’t a one-off experience. As youth return to Mountain Wisdom for summer and fall camps, Jay and his team challenge and equip them to become mentors for their peers. Some even come back to shadow staff and become staff members themselves.
“One of my goals is that they walk away feeling like they have more purpose and they can make a difference in their lives and in the world. Maybe they’re not clear at 12 or 13 years old what purpose really looks like, but they can know their life has meaning.”
During fall camps, Jay and his team facilitate a connective experience for youth and their father figures.
“Our fall camp is Boys and Men Integration Weekend. A lot of the young men who come to our summer camps come back in the fall, and they invite their father or father figure. We bring multiple generations together, and there’s so much [everyone can learn]. Last year, we had [campers] from eight years old up to 80 years old.”
Recently, Jay started looking into opportunities to maximize fundraising and networking efforts.
“I’ve known about the umbrella of community foundations for many years, and we were looking for more opportunities to network, especially with organizations that work with children and families,” Jay shared.
“We started looking at different community foundations, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia seemed like it would be a good fit for what we were looking for.”
By opening a fund and earning a higher return on investment than a standard savings account, Jay hopes to stretch Mountain Wisdom’s dollars and keep camps affordable and accessible for young people.
At Mountain Wisdom camps, connections and conversations are happening around the campfire, on the lake and on the trail — connections and conversations challenging the next generation to find purpose and belonging.
To partner with Mountain Wisdom, click here to donate to its fund!
