Amy Thompson is the Secretary of the Board of Directors for The Howl Experience, a youth-focused organization offering learning experiences designed to help young people discover their own voice, build real-world skills, and find their place in their communities. Amy’s involvement started in 2023 when she joined a Yukon Exploration trip as a participant, an experience she describes as genuinely redirecting the course of her life.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
The Howl Experience (Howl) offers unique learning experiences designed to inspire career pathways and support youth to build confident, community-based lives.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We know that today’s standard education system and post-secondary to career pathway is not designed for everyone and doesn’t always support youth to discover and hear their own voice. We aim to provide a type of learning that respects each person’s individuality, culture and the energy that they possess. In doing so, we support youth to gain applicable knowledge and skills to their everyday lives, education and career aspirations, and for their communities.
When did you start/join it?
My involvement with The Howl Experience began in 2023, when I went on the Yukon Exploration. It is not an exaggeration to say this experience shifted the course of my life in a position direction, helping me to recalibrate my compass.
What made you want to get involved?
I joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2023, as I wanted to continue the work of The Howl Experience in a different capacity.
What was the situation like when you started?
Because Howl is a young organization, when it started the Board of Directors was also young, and not necessarily as experienced, but this was also a benefit. We were figuring out how to operate in a similar way to how the organization operates while adhering to Board Bylaws.
How has it changed since?
Both the Board and the organization as a whole have worked hard to balance Indigenous Ways of Knowing and relationships with structure, and I believe Howl has grown firm roots that will allow everyone, staff, partners, and participants, to grow.
What more needs to be done?
In an ideal world, Howl wouldn’t be needed because the format and heart of the programs would be the standard of public education. Because this isn’t the reality, funding to allow for the expansion of these programs and providing access to youth who need them the most will be needed for the foreseeable future.
How can our readers help?
Reach out to the team at The Howl Experience (www.experiencehowl.com) and have a conversation to see if you are able to partner in any way to make the programs a reality. Donations are always amazing to receive, and a reciprocal relationship is an amazing gift as well.
Do you have any events coming up?
There are year-long opportunities, experiences, and programming offered by The Howl Experience. The Led by the Land: Banff Youth Leadership Gathering is the next large-scale event and takes place November 6-9, 2026, in Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis. This year’s conference theme is focusing on how the Land is an essential teacher.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Website
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
Braiding Knowledges Canada does amazing work entering Indigenous-centered research. In an age of mis- and disinformation, supporting research is crucial, but continuing beyond the research to include relationality is a key step in reconciliation.
