Helping youth learn, heal, and thrive

Helping youth learn, heal, and thrive

Helping youth learn, heal, and thrive

Helping youth learn, heal, and thrive

Gateway Mountain Center brings together the transformative power of human connection and nature immersion to help young people learn, heal, and thrive.

Our innovative, science-informed method called 4Roots for Growing a Human supports the emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being of all young people—regardless of where they come from, their life experiences, and their physical abilities.

Our work happens in all the places where young people need this support. That includes working with schools, collaborating with community groups and youth organizations, offering services at our community wellness center, and delivering our clinically supervised, nature-based, therapeutic mentoring program.   

two youths working together

4Roots Method

4Roots for Growing a Human is our innovative, science-informed method, which we use across our programs to help young people learn, heal, and thrive. We call our method 4Roots because the science of healthy development shows that there are four roots for healthy, holistic human development. 

Our Programs

Our holistic programs tap into the transformational power of nature —both as a teacher and as medicine.

  • hiker on rock with view

    Whole Hearts, Minds & Bodies

    Whole Hearts, Minds & Bodies (WHMB) brings young people out of the clinic and into the outdoors through a clinically supervised, nature-based, therapeutic mentoring program for young people who have complex emotional and behavioral needs, and require intensive and frequent mental health support.

  • school kids program

    Sierra Experience

    Sierra Experience offers nature immersion experiences to young people to open their hearts and minds to the natural world. We partner with schools, community groups, and youth organizations to offer trailblazing environmental education, including field science, outdoor adventures, mindfulness practices, and customized personal development. Young people learn to cultivate knowledge and curiosity about the natural world as they develop their whole selves, forge their own growth, and build connections.

  • 4Roots Wellness Center

    4Roots Youth Wellness Center

    The 4Roots Youth Wellness Center is our community-based wellness center where young people in the local community around Truckee, California, can receive support to achieve emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and physical well-being. We offer holistic wellness services and customized programs for individuals and groups.

A Snapshot of GMC’s Reach & Impact

  • 30,000

    Youths Served

  • 75

    Schools Reached

  • 2,300

    Happy Campers

diverse group on mountain top

Our Commitment to Equity

Our commitment to equity means we see and hear each and every young person for their whole self, supporting the totality of their development and well-being.

mentors with teens

Our Guides & Therapeutic Mentors

Our guides and therapeutic mentors lean into the proven power of authentic relationships, meeting young people where they are with openness and compassion, nurturing self awareness and igniting the passion for self-discovery.

golden gate bridge with hiker

Tahoe & San Francisco Locations

Gateway Mountain Center has been making a positive impact for over 12 years in the Truckee/Tahoe area with its innovative Whole Hearts, Minds, and Bodies (WHMB) program. Inspired by this success, we are expanding the program to San Francisco and extending this valuable service to Medi-Cal-eligible, high-need youth in the diverse community of San Francisco.

Our Partners