The nature photographer who has developed an innovative program for at-risk kids in northwest Wisconsin recently spoke about the program at a TEDx event, where innovative ideas are featured in short presentations.

Ben Thwaits shared photos and stories of how getting kids on and in the rivers has had profound impacts on their lives:

“His students are often on the brink of existence, from severe depression, to emerging bipolar disorder, to recent suicide attempts, to a life on the run. Many come from backgrounds in poverty, neglect, and trauma. As their work has been viewed my millions around the nation, Ben’s photographers show us the potential of our most marginalized young people.

“An evolutionary biologist by training, Ben didn’t even know he liked working with kids. That changed when he took a job with Northwest Passage in western Wisconsin, a long-term treatment center for teenagers at risk.”

Read more about In A New Light in this St. Croix 360 article.