At its heart, The First Tee of the Inland Northwest is about kids. We are a youth development organization and our mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. We do this by seamlessly integrating life skills and core values, such as sportsmanship, judgment and respect, into golf lessons for young people in our community ages 7 through seniors in high school. Golf can be played as a team or as an individual, it’s a family sport and, unlike many other youth sports, is one that can last a lifetime. It’s for these reasons we make golf the vehicle to deliver the Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits in our life skills programs. 1 in 3 young people in the US will reach age 19 without an adult mentor of any kind. The First Tee of the Inland Northwest answers this need by providing a safe place with caring adults after school and in the summer months. Our volunteers and coaches are trained to deliver The First Tee curriculum in a way that makes learning life skills and core values fun. Our volunteers don’t just show up for classes here and there – they commit to an entire session, which is at least two hours a week for 6-8 weeks, to ensure our participants have consistent leadership they can count on. The First Tee of the Inland Northwest will never turn a child away for inability to pay. With the help of our volunteers and donors our dream is to bring EVERY child in the Inland Northwest to The First Tee programs. We believe our research-proven curriculum is helping to raise an entire generation of civic-minded people who demonstrate the Nine Core Values and can confidently navigate life’s bunkers, both figuratively and literally. By getting kids on the golf course, we’re setting them on the right course for life.