Upstream Gold

Upstream Gold, the debut chapbook of youth poet Cyle Salmon, follows a determined voice that keeps "swimming upstream" toward growth, character, and hope. Cyle writes about standing apart from the crowd, pushing through fear, and facing grief and change with courage. His poems use bold images and stories, a salmon against the current, a bear that represents anxiety, a storm that tests the heart, a race that demands everything, to show what resilience looks like in real life. He wrestles with perfection, pressure, and loss, then returns to gratitude, mentorship, and love as anchors that keep him steady. Clear, energetic, and honest, Upstream Gold invites readers to choose the harder path that makes them stronger, to find their "north star," and to turn setbacks into fuel for the journey. Developed through Youth Writers' Camp (Summer 2025), this initiative gives young people the tools to share their voices and experiences through creative writing. The program emphasizes social-emotional learning, self-expression, and community building, making it valuable for both youth and adults. Suitable for middle-grade readers and up, Youth Writers' Camp projects connect naturally to classroom and youth-program discussions about creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.