Removing Barriers to Belonging Through Movement
Trips For Kids Ottawa | Ottawa, Ontario | 2025 Catapult Grant Recipient | $62,800 | NEET Stream
In Ottawa, Trips for Kids Ottawa (TFKO) is helping youth who face economic, social, and cultural barriers find freedom, confidence, and connection through outdoor recreation. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada grant, TFKO delivers inclusive, trauma-informed programs that make biking, skating, and time in nature accessible to all youth, especially those who might otherwise be left out.
About the Program
TFKO provides free after-school programs for newcomer, refugee, and equity-deserving youth who face obstacles to participation. Every detail is covered – from bikes, skates, helmets, and nutritious snacks to transportation and trained mentors. The program provides a safe, supportive space where youth can learn new skills, build confidence, and develop a sense of belonging. Through movement-based learning and mentorship, participants strengthen leadership, teamwork, and emotional well-being in an environment where everyone is welcomed exactly as they are.
“This grant empowers us to break down barriers and provide consistent, high-quality outdoor programs that are accessible to youth who might not otherwise have these opportunities. For many, these experiences are more than just recreation, they offer healing, hope, and the first steps toward shaping their own path,” says the team.
Addressing Gaps in Access
In Ottawa, many newcomer and underserved youth miss out on after-school activities due to financial or cultural barriers. At Collège Catholique Franco-Ouest, TFKO supports students in the PANA (Programme d’appui aux nouveaux arrivants) program, many newly arrived from Haiti and African countries. At Frederick Banting Alternative High School, the program helps youth facing poverty, trauma, or neurodivergence rebuild confidence and connection, while a partnership with the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre offers youth in recovery a safe space to heal through movement and mentorship.
Research confirms the impact of these programs. Community-based recreation improves mental health, physical literacy, and social connection, particularly for newcomer and at-risk youth. For many, what starts as a bike ride or skating lesson becomes a turning point toward confidence, healing, and hope.
Strengthening Youth Learning with Support from the Rideau Hall Foundation
With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, TFKO is expanding its reach to serve more youth across Ottawa, equipping its sites with the gear, volunteers, and resources needed to sustain high-quality, inclusive recreation. Catapult funding helps TFKO deepen its partnerships with schools and community organizations while strengthening its trauma-informed, bilingual mentorship model.
Beyond funding, Catapult connects TFKO to a national network of youth-serving organizations working to make learning and wellness more equitable and inclusive. By investing in initiatives like TFKO, the Rideau Hall Foundation is helping youth across Canada experience the joy of movement, the power of belonging, and the confidence to carve their own path forward.