Honoring the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation: Empowering Southern California Youth

At R.M. Pyles Boys Camp, we know that real change happens when youth are given the chance to grow through challenge, mentorship, and community. Since 2019, the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation has been a steadfast partner in making this possible for 27 boys. Pyles serves youth from across Southern California, including Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Kern, and Santa Barbara counties.

Each summer, boys take part in our 12-day wilderness leadership program in the Sequoia National Forest and Golden Trout Wilderness. For many, it is their first extended time in nature. With the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation's support, these experiences are paired with year-round mentorship, reunions, and an educational focus, ensuring lessons learned at camp extend into daily life at home, in school, and in the community.

One of the most impactful components of our program is our horse program, where campers learn horsemanship, care, and riding. Working with animals teaches boys empathy, respect, and patience — qualities that transfer directly to how they interact with peers, family, and their broader community.

Our Parent Impact Survey showed gains across three areas: education focus, self-reliance, and positive self-image, with parents reporting boys returned from camp more engaged in school, more independent, and more confident. (Editorial note: the source data doesn't specify the survey's scale or sample size — worth confirming those details with whoever ran the survey before citing these figures in grant materials.)

The Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation's generosity, covering approximately $3,500 per youth each year, ensures that financial barriers never prevent a young man from experiencing these life-changing opportunities. Since 2019, 27 young men have had this life-changing opportunity.