Adverse childhood experiences and accompanying toxic stress have negative impacts on children. Of particular interest, then, is identifying strategies that could help at-risk youth mitigate the impacts of toxic stress. Using a phenomenology based, qualitatively dominant research approach, this study explores dynamics of toxic stress in at-risk youth and how the On The Rise program, an agricultural-based after school program for at-risk youth, addresses toxic stress. The findings elucidate that the youth endured several social and environmental conditions that could contribute to toxic stress. Youth also described several toxic stress responses (signs) in their day to day lives. Youth comments exemplify three areas that they perceive to have experienced positive outcomes (such as school performance, family, dynamics, and peer relationships) and five program attributes collectively contributing to positive outcomes. Implications for program development targeting at-risk youth are presented and discussed.