RPAL Outdoor Education & Adventures Program
| Amount | $600,640 |
| Grantee | Richmond Police Activities League |
| Award Year | 2022 |
| Funding Source | General Fund, Outdoor Equity Program |
| Project Type | Program Operation |
| Project Status | In Progress |
Description
Conduct the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) Outdoor Education & Adventures Program for residents near the Richmond Police Activities League facility. This program will include approximately 367 activity days in the community for approximately 8,100 participants and approximately 61 trips to natural areas for approximately 3,200 participants during three years of programming.
Activities in the community will include Community Activities to address environmental and social injustices; Outdoor Experiential Learning; Art Instruction, transformational learning & Community Healing; and Survival and Safety Skills Training for overnight trips.
Trips to natural areas outside of the community will include Wildcat Canyon Community Hike and Picnic; Angel Island State Park History Tour and Ferry Ride; Armstrong Redwoods State Park Tour; Bike the Golden Gate to Headlines; Into the Redwood Forest; Yosemite National Park Family Camping; Sempervirens at Loma Mar; Oakland Zoo Fieldtrip; Zoo Fieldtrip & Animal Adventure at Sloat Blvd; An Adventure in Learning at Safari West; Overnight Family Camping at Lake Camanche; Overnight Family Camping at Clearlake; Rare Plant Adventure at Botanical Gardens in UC Berkeley; Skiing at Bear Valley; Unlocking Alcatraz; Outdoor Education at the San Pablo Reservoir; Visit Monterey Aquarium & Indian Museum; Stinson Beach Family Picnic; Visit to Allensworth; and Family Funday at San Pablo Reservoir.
Community Home Base Location
2200 Macdonald Ave Richmond, CA 94801
| County | Contra Costa |
| Assembly District | AD 14 Buffy Wicks (D) |
| Senate District |
SD 07 Jesse Arreguín (D) |
| Congressional District | CD 08 John Garamendi (D) |
Program Goals
Service Learning/Career Pathway/Leadership Opportunities
The Youth Ambassadors Program – through a partnership between RPAL and the City of Richmond, summer employment will be provided to 20 youth, ages 16-21, who will serve as ambassadors to local businesses and community sites. While working, participants beautify the community, identify and eliminate blight, make connections with local small business owners, explore careers with the city, and build life skills.
- Twenty residents will become Afterschool/Summer Leaders
- Ten residents will become Peer Mentors
Partnerships
- Contra Costa County Office of Education - Instruction – will provide academic instruction and curriculum development.
- Urban Tilth – will provide comprehensive education and training in urban agriculture, watershed restoration training, summer apprenticeship, and fellowship relevant pre-employment training, community art projects, and STEAM education, and exposure to the world of careers in the outdoor.
- Boys Scouts of America – will teach camping, hiking safety and skills.
Mentoring
RPAL will continue to mentor youth in the program through learning and leadership opportunities. RPAL will be recruiting employees for a new program called Eat-Able for Life which will include a community garden with the goal of youth operating the garden. In addition, the RPAL outdoor education program will continue past the life of the grant and will need young people to assist with the daily operation.
The goal is to select a total of 10 - 15 youth from the Youth Ambassadors Program, Afterschool/Summer Leaders and Peer Mentors. Selections will be made through an application process as well as those who show an interest in environmental justice. In addition to providing employment opportunities for the outdoor education and the Eat-Able for Life program, RPAL will provide networking opportunities to meet different professionals and explore different career pathways in environmental justice. Further, RPAL will provide academic support for those who are struggling to master high academic standards and help participants connect with environmental justice apprenticeships and internships.
Annual Report Details
Programs may span from one year to multi-year, not to exceed four years. The specific length of the program is contained in the description above.
List of Educational Goals Achieved
2023
Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.
List of Formed Partnerships
2023
Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.
Lessons
2023
Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.
