Program still in the planning stages and updates will be submitted in 2024.

This program has successfully fulfilled its educational goals under Assembly Bill No. 209, Chapter 675, by delivering outdoor environmental education focused on the San Dieguito watershed. Designed for underserved students in Escondido, CA, the program provided immersive full-day field trips to locations like Volcan Mountain, the San Diego Archaeological Center, Lake Hodges, and the San Dieguito Lagoon. Students explored the watershed’s ecological, historical, and cultural significance while learning about its connection to the ocean. The curriculum, aligned with California's Next Generation Science and History-Social Science Standards, integrated science, history, and cultural studies to inspire stewardship and sustainability. By partnering with governmental agencies and nonprofits, the program enriched its offerings while fostering community engagement. This initiative has empowered students with knowledge, mentorship, and tools to thrive as informed environmental stewards.

Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) selected Nickerson Gardens Recreation Center as the Community Home Base because it is a central gathering place for residents (including youth). OBA has worked with the center since 1968.

While starting up our OEP work at the Watts Empowerment Center (on a separate grant), several youth had difficulty staying engaged in our traditional programming. In response, we paused our programming at all OEP (Watts, South LA and Nickerson Gardens) locations to focus on restructuring and providing further training for our staff to ensure that future outings are successful. The new staff training will be completed in several weeks. We are currently in the process of recruiting a Program Coordinator for Nickerson Gardens, based in the local community.

We expanded our partnerships to enhance our programs, bringing in three new organizations as guest collaborators. These organizations have enriched our initiatives by connecting students with diverse missions and fostering transformative experiences. Kit Fox Outfitters specializes in outdoor safety education, blending nature enjoyment with essential skills. They provided guidance, and curriculum designed for youth, ensuring participants are prepared and informed. Queer Collective fosters safety, healing, and celebration within the LGBTQIA+ community through Indigenous methodologies, emphasizing biodiversity restoration and Indigenous leadership. Free Flight Learning Center educates on the care and conservation of birds, inspiring appreciation for these species while highlighting their ecological importance. These collaborations offer students invaluable experiences in safety, environmental stewardship, and cultural awareness, broadening their perspectives and connections.

Youth that have been brought up amidst trauma, poverty, and instability have understandably learned unhealthy behaviors to help them navigate and survive their difficult situations. Given our decades long history of working within this community, we have the tools and training to achieve successful outcomes. However, new challenges emerged last year that helped us to recognize that some areas in our curriculum needed rethinking. We've hired a leadership and training specialist who has years of experience with this particular population to assist in restructuring our curriculum for our Diverse Outdoor Leadership Training (DOLI). This will allow our instructors to maximize the impact and positive outcomes we aim to achieve with youth in Nickerson Gardens.

This programs key strengths are the partnerships with nonprofit organizations, enriching content and offering diverse learning experiences. Expanding collaborations, especially with Indigenous and environmental groups, will further enhance the program. Alignment with NGSS and History-Social Science Standards has ensured activities meet educational benchmarks and support academic progress. Challenges included transportation logistics, particularly finding qualified Class B drivers. To address this, recruitment efforts will expand and partnerships with transportation providers will be explored. High summer temperatures required modifications of activities, the majority of future trips will occur in Spring 2025. Building a robust volunteer infrastructure with training and recognition will improve the stress on staff. Feedback through surveys and focus groups will guide continuous improvement, ensuring the program evolves as a model of impactful, inclusive environmental education.