REACH

REACH is a small local organization that provides comprehensive transformative support and development opportunities to first-generation college-bound students as they navigate the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The name is an acronym that stands for Resilience, Education, Adventure, Community and Health, but the word itself perfectly describes what the organization does, which is to reach way beyond the ordinary to augment traditional college prep workshops with a variety of extensive nature-based learning opportunities, and continued support through the first year of college to build a foundation not only for college success but a productive and impactful life.

The program begins junior year in high school, emphasizing college and career prep with some added personal development and outdoor experiences. During senior year, REACH focuses on college and financial application support and more extended outdoor training. The first year of college then switches priority to put emphasis on personal growth, including a rock-climbing trip, before the program ends with an immersive 18-day trip over the summer. 

Over the course of their 2.5-year journey, the fellows, as REACH participants are known, get hands-on help with SAT prep, college and career readiness workshops, college tours, college and financial aid application assistance; overnight camping, backpacking, cultural immersions in local and remote locations; and training in leadership, financial literacy, college success strategies, nutrition and cooking classes, social-emotional learning, and problem-solving skills. 

“We focus on a number of different areas of the student’s life with a program that supports their holistic development,” said Executive Director Raúl Aguilera, who was a graduate of an earlier, more simplistic version of the program. “It’s important to be that immersive rather than just focus on getting them to college. We prepare them to be adults, and incorporate being outdoors because we know that connection to nature is paramount in a person’s mental well-being as well as their physical health. Combining those things with the leadership and mentorship that students need really helps them to thrive.” 

REACH largely works with first generation students, those who will be the first in their families to attend college and who therefore generally don’t have access to the resources so-called legacy families might enjoy. 

“Their parents never had the opportunity to do some of the things that they’re getting to do and probably don’t even have the needed knowledge to support them,” Aguilera explained. “School counselors are overworked with 300-500 students each. That’s where we come in to bridge the gaps, cover the need for knowledge and tools that will help them achieve their goals.” 

The entire REACH program is provided at no cost to the participants, including everything from the extensive trips to the coaching, application fees, and even transportation to the local workshops when needed. That ability to offer its array of services for free is possible because REACH is funded through the generosity of the Audacious Foundation.

“We provide everything free so we can not only help with the barriers that already exist as first generation [college-bound students], but make sure financial issues don’t get in the way,” Aguilera said. 

REACH is understandably proud of expanding its own, well, reach in recent years. Last month, the organization announced its largest cohort to date, one consisting of 60 fellows who will graduate high school in 2026. The milestone marks a significant growth of 33 percent from just two recruitment cycles ago in the fall of 2023, and reflects REACH’s continued commitment to provide its highly-effective programming to ever-larger numbers to meet the substantial need in the area. 

As with previous classes, Cohort 2025 embodies REACH’s mission in that 87 percent will be the first in their families to attend college, with 82 percent of the fellows exhibiting documented financial need by receiving state and/or federal benefits. The new group of participants evenly represent areas across Santa Barbara County, with 31 from the North County region (Santa Maria and Lompoc areas) and 29 from South County cities of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta. The students maintain an average high school GPA of 3.76.

Through its three cohorts each year, REACH is currently serving 155 students, with the goal of 180 by this time next year. 

But that’s still a drop in the bucket of the need countywide, Aguilera said. 

“We’re limited by our resources,” he said. “Even though the organization only has four staff members, the expenses to run the program are significant because of the experiences we offer, including the immersive college tours, and three different trips over the course of the program.”

At this point, REACH is still singularly funded by Audacious Foundation, officially as a sponsored project of Wilderness Youth Project. While the organization is extremely grateful for the support, expanding its financial picture is one of the REACH’s major goals for the near future. 

“We do want to grow, and to do that we need to diversify our funding which is necessary in order to become our own nonprofit,” Aguilera said. 

Those who want to help REACH achieve its goals of helping its participants reach or exceed their own are invited to make a direct donation online. But dollars aren’t the only way to support the organization, as REACH always has a need for additional volunteers who can support in a number of ways, including during the workshops that range from applying to college to cooking and outdoor trips.  

Visit www.reachfellowship.org