Woodcraft Rangers
Guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives.
Woodcraft Rangers
EIN: 95-1729319
as of November 2023
as of November 13, 2023
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
Environment Matters. Woodcraft Ranger youth reflect the challenges of the communities we serve - communities that manifest the results of underemployment, unemployment and the working poor -- neighborhoods scarred by years of housing instability, substandard environmental conditions, gangs, and violence and have the lowest rankings in the Human Development index in all of Los Angeles County. In these neighborhoods are the 13,409 kids we served in the last year who attend the 75 Title I schools we operate within - schools with the lowest state academic performance rankings and have minimal access to enrichment activities or technological resources. Within this setting, socioeconomic lines are drawn by race and reveal an even harsher reality of segregation in contrast to schools in wealthier neighborhoods just a few miles away. This is where Woodcraft Rangers has chosen to root itself. Without access to safe spaces, gangs and violence become a safe place. Without the support of men
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Expanded Learning
PHILOSOPHY
Through the Fourfold Woodcraft Way, a precursor to the modern whole child educational model, a young person develops an authentic and holistic sense of self through play the cultivation of body, mind, spirit and service. Believing that maturity, not scholarship, is the first aim of education, the Woodcraft Way builds character and equips youth with strength and resiliency, new skills, deeper understanding of their place in the world, and greater commitment to their community. The Woodcraft Way encourages individuals to find, test, and explore their strengths, in the company of friends and committed guides, who provide a sense of belonging and support so that they may grow confidently in many directions.
Woodcraft harnesses personal power that gives each participant the tools needed to be reflective and the inspiration to set and then strive towards personal goals. From Woodcraft’s inception, the central fire has served as its unifying symbol and has illustrated our commitment, for nearly a century, to cultivating an inclusive environment that has always welcomed and honored diverse participants and perspectives. Finally, nature is a critical element in this journey of self-discovery for Woodcrafters as it brings physical and mental restoration from our modern existence. Woodcrafters are eager to learn, inspired by vision, and willing to lead.
OUR WORK
Woodcraft Rangers programs are anchored in a holistic educational framework that encompasses all areas of a young person’s development. With student interests at the center of our program design, Woodcraft Rangers offers opportunities for youth to explore and develop themselves through various pathways, including Sports, Arts & Media, STEM, Dual Language Enrichment, Health & Wellness, and Youth Leadership.
Our longstanding delivery of service has enabled us to impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people over the years, ranging in age from 5 to 18 years. Our longevity is evidence that we have always been responsive to the changing needs of our communities and we continue to build and adapt around the current issues facing our youth.
Our cumulative demographics mirror the rich diversity of Woodcraft Rangers communities within the Greater Los Angeles area. This encompasses South Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Vernon, Huntington Park, South Gate, and San Fernando Valley. Woodcraft participants identify as Hispanic (80%), African-American (10%), Asian/Pacific Islander (7%), and Caucasian (3%). They are 51% male and 49% female.
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
By providing youth with a safe space and a variety of options to test and learn, coupled with active mentorship and the encouragement to try and win or fail, Woodcraft Rangers affords young people with the opportunity to grow. Our experience has shown that when youth are given agency to choose the subjects and activities that inspire and motivate them, not only can learning be fun, it can be transformational.
AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
In 2020, our programs will serve approximately 15,000 students, equating to 7.5 million hours of learning and mentorship for LA’s youth in communities showing the greatest need. All aftershool opportunities are offered either outside of normal school hours or during holidays, enabling parents to maintain employment during out-of-school hours knowing their children are safe. Unique to Woodcraft’s program, students have access to over 100 different enrichment clubs, providing participants with the ability to explore their own interests and develop new skills. Clubs are organized into 6 main learning pathways: Arts & Media, Dual Language Enrichment, Egalitarian Sports, Health & Wellness, STEM, and Youth Leadership.
Woodcraft Rangers Club Leaders and Site Coordinators curate activities to meet the specific needs of the students at each site and dovetail with the unique dynamics of each neighborhood and community. Social and emotional learning and trauma informed practices are integrated in every facet of their learning and development. Because we hire exclusively from the communities that we serve, our guides are intimately familiar with the nuances of the community and can respond effectively to their needs.
WOODCRAFT RANGERS DAY CAMPS
The goal of the Woodcraft Day Camp experience is to help students stay on track academically during vacation periods, while still having fun.
As a participant in a Woodcraft Day camp, youth receive academic reinforcement, in addition to participation in sports, STEM, field trips, and arts experiences that are culturally relevant. Youth are engaged with popular activities such as dance and art, but also get to experience cutting-edge clubs like skateboarding, stop motion animation, robotics, yoga and more. Each day offers campers a well-balanced experience that infuses enrichment, STEM and academic pursuits that are driven by their own interests. Woodcraft offers over 100 different special subjects and incorporates a wide variety of interests in its summer curriculum, including academic support.
Woodcraft Day Camp programs offer 7 hours of core programming with optional extended day options, providing quality learning and care from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. With Woodcraft’s commitment to accessibility, our programs operate on a sliding scale model to enable a wide range of attendance across the communities we serve. Day Camps provide parents with the ability to continue employment without disruption, leading to greater economic stability for the communities that we serve. The program for each summer camp site is unique as it is designed to reflect the interests of the students being served.
SUMMER RESIDENTIAL CAMP
Located three hours from Los Angeles in the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild, Woodcraft residential camp provides 600 campers from diverse backgrounds with a transformative week-long experience. At camp, youth are be exposed to the wonders of nature and create deep connections to their peers and adult allies. The setting and programs are mentally, emotionally, socially and physically stimulating, creating an intense and lasting imprint of positive experiences and memories. Campers also discover new interests, learn new skills, and develop greater independence, self-confidence and resilience. They explore their creativity and develop a deeper appreciation of themselves, one another, and the natural environment. These transformative experiences are unique to residential camp, which is otherwise unavailable to underserved youth.
Nature is a critical element in this journey of self-discovery for Woodcrafters as it brings physical and mental restoration and a respite from our modern existence. Research also shows that this immersive nature experience helps young people to recalibrate in a world of digital overload. Woodcraft Rangers has stayed true to the founding principles of access and inclusion, and our intentionally diverse camps create a unique opportunity as a laboratory for social cohesion.
In partnership with mental health professionals from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Camp Woodcraft’s innovative, trauma-informed program provides a rich and healing experience for our camp community.
LIFECRAFT COLLEGE AND CAREER ACCELERATOR
Woodcraft Rangers is a reliable employer within high-need communities, providing first or second jobs to many early career professionals. A recent career interest survey showed that only 14% of staff hold bachelor’s degrees even though 56% are over age 24. Forty-three percent of respondents said they had previously been enrolled in a degree program – indicating a will, but inability, to finish college. Scheduling conflicts inherent in low-wage jobs force many young people to choose between school and work.
In response, Woodcraft created the Lifecraft College and Career Accelerator and its pilot program is underway in 2020 thanks to a seed gift from Kaiser Permanente. The program will help talented Woodcraft staff currently employed as afterschool educators to access to higher wage, long-term employment and greater lifetime income through degree attainment and access to social capital.
LEARNING PATHWAYS
In alignment to Woodcraft Rangers philosophy, the “Woodcraft Way,” each program encourages youth to explore, discover, test, and explore their strengths. Each Woodcraft Rangers Program draws from a wellspring of knowledge and experience that stems from nearly 100 years of experience that the organization has serving youth in Los Angeles. Our approach is also inspired by the present-day expertise of our guides, and subject matter experts that are organized into six main learning pathways: Arts & Media, Dual Language Enrichment, Egalitarian Sports, Health & Wellness, STEM, and Youth Leadership.
ARTS & MEDIA
We recognize the importance of art in all forms as an expression of culture, identity and individuality. Performing arts offerings include modern dance, classical dance and Baile Folklorico, drum line, guitar, keyboard, Mariachi, drama, color guard, cheer and drill. We extend the arts to vocational options which include cosmetology, graphic design, and arts management. Woodcraft Club Leaders craft programs specific to the students at each site, to ensure that opportunities remain relevant and students stay engaged.
DUAL LANGUAGE ENRICHMENT
Our Dual Language Enrichment programs make English, Spanish, Armenian, and Mandarin Chinese an everyday part of learning and play. Our Armenian Language Club, is just one example – where academic support and all activities are conducted in Armenian and English. This program has empowered first generation young Armenian speakers with the ability to learn English and has exposed older youth to their native tongue. Similar clubs exist for Spanish and Mandarin Chinese languages, and are led by experienced, bilingual staff.
EGALITARIAN SPORTS
We believe that even within structured play programs, when every interested child is included and encouraged, the tide of equity and inclusiveness rises for all. Additionally, we believe children should be given the opportunity to explore many options so, our sports programs include a wide range of popular and non-traditional offerings – basketball, skateboarding, bicycling, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and yoga – and are targeted to all abilities and genders.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
All programs include elements focused on wellness including teaching healthy eating habits, providing healthy meals and snacks that comply with California health standards and conducting non-competitive, game-based fitness activities that allow for all children to participate. Furthermore, through our integrated Gardening and Culinary Arts programs, students learn about whole foods, from raised bed to table.
STEM
From robotics to gardening – regardless of subject – all opportunities integrate lessons in art, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In this way, students intuitively learn that STEM concepts influence everything they do and experience in the world.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Although all Woodcraft Ranger programs allow for our youth to be heard, it is our Youth Advisory Board which empowers participating young people to grow into leaders by informing the planning, implementation and evaluation of Woodcraft programs. In this all-age leadership program, participants help identify events and program design while developing critical thinking, analysis and communication skills.
The Youth Advisory Board provides intentional opportunities for young people to influence and create change within their schools, neighborhoods, and communities in an ongoing and systematic manner.
Camp Woodcraft
Our Residential Summer Camp, comprised of one week stays in Big Bear, California, is the heart of Woodcraft Rangers. We believe that children learn through play and should have the opportunity to take developmentally appropriate risks that build resiliency and independence. This sense of autonomy is nurtured through mentoring by trained instructors and counselors who are equipped to support the social, emotional, and physical development of every child. In each week-long session, over 100 young people engage in nature-based activities designed to build and enhance confidence, conflict resolution skills, communication, teamwork, and perhaps most importantly, connectedness to one another and to nature. Nature is a critical element in this journey of self-discovery for Woodcrafters as it brings physical and mental restoration and a respite from our modern existence. Research also shows that this immersive nature experience helps young people to recalibrate in a world of digital overload. Woodcraft Rangers has stayed true to the founding principles of access and inclusion, and our intentionally diverse camps create a unique opportunity as a laboratory for social cohesion.
Where we work
External reviews

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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our current goals are informed by the needs of young people navigating through a rapidly changing world. We define success by seeing the following improvements in our Woodcraft Ranger youth – improved school attendance and behavior and attitudes towards school, increased participant attendance through improved recruitment, club development, and expanded partnerships with school-day staff, enhanced academic performance and language development, stronger social and emotional skills, and a reduction in or abstention from high risk behaviors.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Woodcraft Rangers integrates the “Woodcraft Way” – an educational framework that encompasses all areas of a young person’s development - mind, body, spirit, and service. This holistic approach still defines Woodcraft Rangers’ eight signature programs – Residential Summer Camp, Summer Learning Camp, Sports, Arts & Media, STEM, Dual Language Enrichment, Health & Wellness, and Youth Leadership.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
For nearly 100 years, Woodcraft Rangers has been at the forefront of expanded learning opportunities in the Greater Los Angeles area. Believing that communities themselves are best equipped to determine their own needs, as early as the 1950s Woodcraft Rangers identified the need for parent participation and created neighborhood Advisory Boards to complement its city-wide neighborhood programs. In the 1960s, we developed pre-delinquent youth development and work training programs in response to President Johnson’s “War on Poverty”. In the 1980s, our reach expanded with the creation of our Youth Employment Education program. Ultimately, this long-standing delivery of service has enabled us to impact the lives of 500,000 young people, ranging in age from 5 to 18 years. Our longevity is evidence that we have always been responsive to the changing needs of our communities and we continue to build and adapt around the current issues facing our youth.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We are pleased to share the following measurable outcomes garnered from ERC data, the leading state after school program 3rd party evaluator, as tangible evidence of our success –
• 96.6 % of students responded positively to the engagement of the program. (ERC, 2018)
• 92% of students responded positively to their input influencing what activities are offered by Woodcraft. (ERC, 2018)
• 94.9% of students trust the adults working for Woodcraft (ERC, 2018)
• 96.6 % of students responded positively to the engagement of the program. (ERC, 2018)
• 92% of students responded positively to their input influencing what activities are offered by Woodcraft. (ERC, 2018)
• 94.9% of students trust the adults working for Woodcraft (ERC, 2018)
1. 47.3% of High Attenders met or exceeded the standard in ELA, 8.5% higher than non-attenders (ERC, 2015)
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
3.70
Months of cash in 2022 info
2.6
Fringe rate in 2022 info
14%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
Woodcraft Rangers
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
This snapshot of Woodcraft Rangers’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $235,119 | $93,600 | $394,409 | $409,688 | $510,382 |
As % of expenses | 2.3% | 0.9% | 3.6% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $213,732 | $58,670 | $367,932 | $386,496 | $439,075 |
As % of expenses | 2.0% | 0.6% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
Revenue composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $10,517,483 | $10,699,815 | $11,231,103 | $13,856,205 | $18,872,695 |
Total revenue, % change over prior year | 15.8% | 1.7% | 5.0% | 23.4% | 36.2% |
Program services revenue | 5.1% | 7.0% | 4.2% | 1.8% | 1.1% |
Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Investment income | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Government grants | 82.1% | 79.9% | 84.9% | 94.5% | 88.3% |
All other grants and contributions | 12.4% | 12.2% | 10.6% | 3.7% | 10.4% |
Other revenue | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Expense composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses before depreciation | $10,414,658 | $10,469,139 | $10,842,011 | $13,459,796 | $18,054,726 |
Total expenses, % change over prior year | 15.7% | 0.5% | 3.6% | 24.1% | 34.1% |
Personnel | 63.3% | 74.0% | 78.9% | 70.9% | 73.3% |
Professional fees | 7.8% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 7.9% | 4.9% |
Occupancy | 2.8% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 5.4% | 3.0% |
Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
All other expenses | 26.1% | 18.2% | 13.1% | 15.8% | 18.8% |
Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses (after depreciation) | $10,436,045 | $10,504,069 | $10,868,488 | $13,482,988 | $18,126,033 |
One month of savings | $867,888 | $872,428 | $903,501 | $1,121,650 | $1,504,561 |
Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Fixed asset additions | $61,316 | $58,175 | $0 | $0 | $707,630 |
Total full costs (estimated) | $11,365,249 | $11,434,672 | $11,771,989 | $14,604,638 | $20,338,224 |
Capital structure indicators
Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Months of cash | 1.7 | 3.3 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.6 |
Months of cash and investments | 3.4 | 3.7 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.6 |
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 |
Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash | $1,483,002 | $2,848,936 | $4,842,544 | $5,370,182 | $3,915,570 |
Investments | $1,489,979 | $402,334 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Receivables | $1,683,956 | $1,304,138 | $1,909,062 | $3,082,131 | $2,462,312 |
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $1,037,808 | $1,095,983 | $1,097,096 | $1,098,098 | $823,038 |
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 92.5% | 90.8% | 93.1% | 95.1% | 16.2% |
Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 15.3% | 11.3% | 33.1% | 41.9% | 24.0% |
Unrestricted net assets | $3,668,262 | $3,726,932 | $4,094,864 | $4,481,360 | $4,920,435 |
Temporarily restricted net assets | $430,067 | $453,721 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Permanently restricted net assets | $70,000 | $70,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total restricted net assets | $500,067 | $523,721 | $518,404 | $509,225 | $533,475 |
Total net assets | $4,168,329 | $4,250,653 | $4,613,268 | $4,990,585 | $5,453,910 |
Key data checks
Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Julee Brooks
Julee Brooks is an experienced nonprofit strategist and changemaker with a solid track record of leading family and youth-focused organizations through periods of dynamic growth in program delivery, earned revenue and fundraising. Julee's areas of expertise include strategic planning, improving organizational efficiency, board development, and access and inclusion. Julee brings direct experience in arts and culture, youth development and human services including roles as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, Museum Director of the Zimmer Children’s Museum (Los Angeles) and as Director of Education at Nashville Children’s Theatre. Julee holds an MFA in Theatre for Youth from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a BA from Centre College. She lives with her husband Ross and two sons, Ryder and Duncan, in La Crescenta.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
Woodcraft Rangers
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Woodcraft Rangers
Board of directorsas of 11/22/2022
Board of directors data
Ms. Celeste Ahl
Alston & Bird
Term: 2021 - 2024
Kenneth Korman
Retired Architect
Peter Anderson
Pete Anderson Consulting
Ellen Chiang
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Wayne Mack
LA County District Attorney
Jonathan Sweet
Syntax LLC
Will Adams
Newmark Knight Frank
Steve Canup
Bank of Hope
Celeste Ahl
Alston & Bird, LLP
Kimberly West Issac
CalWes Homes Inc.
Kathleen Laub
Mt. San Antonio College
Eric Derrington
Whittier Trust
Ivy Draughan
Loyola Marymount University
Brandi Jordan
The Cradle Company, LLC
Que-Lam Huynh
California State University
Francisco Lozano
Tenaya Real Estate Ventures
Marie Pavlich
Spool Marketing
Courtney Smith
The Kitchen Real Estate Co
Mike Hurst
Exactuals LLC
Marin Turney
Brookfield Properties
Carlos Gutierrez
California State University, Los Angeles
Julee Brooks
Woodcraft Rangers
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data