Activities are meeting the project’s activity goals and objectives by serving the intended population of disadvantaged youth and their families in Eureka.

Activities have been focused on youth experiencing homelessness and/or attending an afterschool program of a school with a high percentage of free and reduced priced meals eligibility.

Activities are meeting the project’s activity goals by conducting Activities in the Community and Nature Area Trips as described in our grant application.

Activities are meeting the educational goal # 1: Instruction in arts, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that connects to nature experiences, or environmental stewardship. Program staff connect nature-themed activities to environmental stewardship, art, and science. Activities included participants recording their observations, scientific sketching, and flora and fauna scavenger hunts. Utilizing active modes of transportation, walking and cycling, to destinations has also been incorporated into programming whenever possible.

Activities are meeting the educational goal # 2: Curricula utilized aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, Ocean Literacy Framework and content standards for California public schools. TCLT used curricula informed by the Ocean Literacy Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards during the Tide pooling and Native Plant Identification activities. Participants learned about ocean ecosystems, native plants, and the impact humans can have on the environment.

Each meal provided through the program includes an educational health activity or lesson on topics such as how food processing affects environmental health, minimizing packaging waste, nutrition, learning how to prepare meals, etc.

All VWS curriculum is guided by best practices in Environmental & Outdoor Education, which includes connecting to NGSS and State Standards, socio-emotional learning, and being culturally sensitive to and relevant for participants. Programs included educational activities that foster environmental stewardship, with older students involved in helping to plan and lead trips. Activities included responsible bird and wildlife observation; water testing; tide pooling; and recycled art. Camp menus included nutritious options, and outdoor activities such as hiking, walking and kicking a soccer ball encouraged physical activity, modeling a healthy lifestyle. Activities engage participants in joyful and inquisitive exploration of the outdoors. Journals and “sit spots” provide a way for participants to reflect on and internalize their experiences. These are quiet moments when everyone finds their own spot to write or draw, and practice awareness skills to better observe and connect with nature.

Trinidad Coastal Land Trust (TCLT) will be a significant partner over the course of this program. During this time frame, a subcontract was executed. Meetings were held to determine curricula for activities, logistical details, and how to best work together. For Nature Area Trips conducted and Preparing for Nature Area Trips, TCLT provided curricula and local subject matter experts to provide environmental education to participants.

A partnership with Humboldt Baykeeper was initiated during the reporting period. Program staff partnered with Humboldt Baykeeper, a local environmental conservation organization, for activities in Humboldt Bay. These activities included a Eureka Waterfront and Port boat tour and a Plein Air Art and Birdwatching activity. Humboldt Baykeeper connected program staff with local subject matter experts who provided watercolor painting art supplies and birdwatching education.

The City of Eureka was an intended partner during this program. As they had funding allowing them to conduct similar programming, rather than duplicate efforts, with guidance from our Administrative Project Officer, program staff decided to reach out to other youth serving agencies that otherwise would not have had opportunities for outdoor education and activities.

Program staff conducted outreach to a variety of agencies/groups that may be interested in participating in Outdoor Equity program activities including The City of Eureka’s Parks and Recreation Division, Humboldt County Office of Education’s Expanded Learning Program, Betty Kwan Chinn Family Shelter, Eureka City School’s District Office, and Eureka City School sites: Eureka Sr. High School, Zane Middle School, Alice Birney Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, Grant Elementary, and Washington Elementary.

Activities were conducted in partnership with the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation which includes a day center, temporary housing and other services. Betty Kwan Chinn staff were eager to offer outdoor activities and promoted programming and helped recruit participants. Betty’s staff attended activities to help with participant behavior management when necessary. It was challenging for staff at Betty Chinn’s to predict how many participants could attend each activity and there were often fewer than expected.

Program staff were able to stay in frequent communication with Betty Kwan Chinn’s Family Shelter and collaborate to determine which activities were of most interest and best suited participants. Overall responses to programming were positive and of the participants that did attend events, they expressed sincere appreciation and interest in more activities. Program staff have worked with five Eureka City Schools: Alice Birney, Grant, Lafayette, Washington, and Zane Middle School. Programming across the sites has been varied and looked different. Activities have taken place both during program hours and non-program hours. Staff have found that conducting activities within the afterschool or expanded learning program hours tend to be most successful. o A recent partnership (PARKnership) began in October 2023 when program staff met with Redwood National and State Parks, North Coast Redwoods District (NCRD) of California State Parks, and Redwood Parks Conservancy to discuss collaborative opportunities. Partners aim to offer activities in 2024.

WIC provides use of their spaceand their staff have joined our programs and are able to share first-hand experiences to encourage new families to attend. Sherwood and Los Padres Elementary Schools assist with recruitment. We attend their table events and are participating in virtual presentations for families in the school district. The Alisal Health Clinic provides us with access to doctors so we can discuss with them prescribing nature to their patients. Dr. Moreno, at the clinic, is one of our biggest advocates, recently stating “I am inspired by your work in the multiple programs that you have developed in the recent years. Congratulations - you are making a difference in the farm working families we both serve.” We attend Everyone’s Harvest Farmer’s Market and share cross-referrals with Fresh Rx. We are also a founder of ParkRx Monterey County, and recently joined United Way’s Smart Referral Network which allows 704 users to make “closed loop” referrals to each others programs.

Our agency delayed working on conducting several activities including kayaking, Madaket boat tours of Humboldt Bay, and camping due to their being considered ‘high risk’ by our risk manager and county counsel attorney. We explored options to address these concerns, which included the establishment of agreements with partner agencies who participate in these activities and/or with the vendors that provide these services. Program staff assisted with the development of processes, procedures, and forms to guide the program and ensure we adhere to internal requirements.

One staff person transitioned to another program during this reporting period. DHHS - Public Health was able to hire a new staff person within six months to support this program.

This past year we have really seen first-hand how important it is to build trust with the community we are working with, and how our monthly community club has really made a difference in that respect. The quotes below show how families that were not comfortable sending youth to our programs, and adults who were not interested or comfortable with attending programs themselves, began to change their minds. The community of East Salinas has required more patience and relationship building than any of our other program locations, and we are excited to see engagement slowly but steadily building. In addition, participation in school resource fairs has opened up new opportunities for community connection. Evaluation is important, and we collect pre/post surveys, however we also use informal techniques, like questions and counting ‘show of hands’. This is an easy way to collect information as surveys can sometimes be viewed as a “test” by participants or staff may forget to administer them.