# S5E3: Raising Resilient Kids: Nature Connections, Mental Health, and College Readiness with Mario Mendez of Wilderness Youth Project (WYP)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp.md
Podcast: [Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel](https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707)
Published: 2026-01-13T20:35:00+00:00
Episode link: https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s5e3-raising-resilient-kids-nature-connections-mental-health-and-college-readiness-with-mario-mendez-of-wilderness-youth-project-wyp
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/S5E3_Mario_Interview_FINAL_FOR_LIBSYN.mp3?dest-id=3894051
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Duration seconds: 3019

## Resource

If you're ready to take the next step in your admissions journey, visit https://admittedly.co/apply to register for a free Family Action Call with one of our advisors. Parents worry about grades, test scores, and résumés. But underneath all of that, what really shapes a student who can thrive in competitive academics and in life? In this episode, Thomas Caleel talks with Mario Mendez, Community Accountability Manager and Senior Program Staff at Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) in Santa Barbara, about how nature, unstructured exploration, and real-world challenge help kids build the resilience, awareness, and confidence they need long before they ever apply to college. Mario draws on decades of experience working with young people in South America, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Together, he and Thomas unpack how nature-based programs can support mental health, reduce stress, and help students develop a stronger sense of self – and why those qualities matter so much in highly selective college admissions. Key Topics & Takeaways Education beyond the classroom Why real education includes social emotional learning, self-awareness, and lived experience, not just what happens in class. Nature as a tool for awareness and belonging How tracking, observation, and time outdoors teach kids to notice their surroundings, read a room, and understand their impact on others. Access, equity, and Bridge to Nature How programs like WYP's Bridge to Nature serve under resourced students, and why nature connection is not just for "outdoorsy" or privileged families. What families can do anywhere Practical ways to build nature connection in cities and suburbs using small routines: a single tree, a window, a daily walk, or attention to seasonal changes. Storytelling, resilience,…

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