1. Instruction in arts, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that connects the nature experiences, or environmental stewardship. Participants in the activities provided by the program attend an afterschool enrichment club which is led by one of two credentialed teachers in math and science. These instructors spend time discussing, demonstrating, and allowing participants to engage in elements of the activity before they go on the trip. these instructors spend time throughout the experience pointed out the science of each activity. whether it is the physics of biking and boating or the life science of the importance of forest management, participants are getting to experience the learning.
2. Promote service-learning opportunities between schools and local communities. Participants have had conversations with the City of Mendota and Scout Island Education Center about service learning and civic engagement opportunities, and the participants are currently working on plans to complete a project. participants also participated in You Matter Day in Fresno, which is a day of service for school-age people. This event allows students to serve in many ways and be exposed to over 20 different service opportunities.

The Goals that are being achieved through the Outdoor Program are exposure to the outdoors with a focus on environmental justice. The participants of this program are able to get exposure to many parts of California form agriculture and wetlands, to the Sierra Nevada Range, to the Pacific Ocean. All of these exposures and experiential learning that goes along with these trips are allowing students to see how environmentally diverse, vast and fragile the California ecosystem is. part of this opportunity, students also participated in You Matter Day in Fresno. You Matter Day is a day of service that is run by students for students. This year students from Mendota participated in the day to help others complete service projects. In March, the plan is to have students in Mendota lead a project with a focus on environmental justice. The Project aim is to bring awareness to local issues. 

Partnerships for this program include: City of Mendota- working with the city, looking for ways students in this program can enhance the opportunities for families to have more outdoor opportunities.

Mendota Wildlife area - participants in this program have access to this area for biking and kayaking. Participants are able to explore this unique wetland on the west side of Fresno County within minutes of the residence of Mendota. 

Scout Island Education Center - Participants are able to participate in the low and high element ropes course at Scout Island in order to build confidence, communication and team skills. Like many of the trips the participants have the opportunity to experience an activity they have never done before. along with the ropes course, participants also get to see the natural habitat nursery at Scout Island and see how lands are able to be restored to their natural state. Scout Island may also become the Area of interest for participants to do a service project. 

Lessons learned - transportation and weather. the first year of this project was a great success and participants had amazing opportunities, they wouldn't have otherwise had. With every opportunity, we had participants who had never participated in that activity before. However, the historic amount of rain and snow California experienced did hinder some of the planned trips. the hinderance was twofold, one with bad weather, the school district and parents were hesitant to release participants to attend trips. Also, with the number of participants signed up to go we need to use a bussing service, and they have very strict rules on travel to some areas in the state when weather is a concern. Through better and more frequent communication to all involved, we are making headway. but it definitely was a hurdle.

There are two partnership that have been established for the youth of Mendota this year. The fist is a local partnership with Sole to Soul in Fresno which iis a local bike shop committed to support the mountain bike program established in Mendota. Sole to Soul is giving discounts to the program so participants are able to learn how and maintain the mountain bike equipment purchased through this program which will help to insure sustainability to the communities  outdoor experience. 

The other partnership that has been established is with the Catalina Island Marine Institute, this partnership allows young people from Mendota a rich marine experience not typically available to the Mendota community. students get exposure to the vast richness of the pacific ocean and learn how the the ocean ecosystem is effected by many outside influences. 

As mentioned above, weather is unpredictable, and transportation is heavily influenced by the weather. Through the first year of the project, we have learned to have a solid backup plan when possible. Participants are very eager to go on these adventures and are excited about the opportunities to do something new, have an adventure, and learn something they didn't know. With good alternate activities, we are able to keep up the momentum of their excitement and also keep the trust of the participants and parents.

One tip for successful trips in communities like Mendota is building trusting relationships with families and started small. Some of these trip are very new to the community and trust has to be built for Families to be ok with their sons or daughters to participate. 

One unforeseen challenge is our winter trips to the Mountains. bus transportation either with the district or charter bus are very cautious with any type of winter weather. We have had to change plans or cancel trips all together because of driving conditions.