An example of how our educational goal was met is through our older adult outing to San Francisco where the community was able to receive a demonstration of arts through the Japanese Tea Garden as well as foster stewardship at the Golden Gate State Park. An older adult ambassador presented a lecture with history on the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, and Fisherman's Warf, while the Garden tour gave the community an experience of natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. On the commute back the ambassador presented her peers with a quiz to test the information they were able to retain.

Instruction Connects to Nature and Environmental Stewardship The River Trips, Engineering Your Own Bicycle, Environmental Exploration Days, and Urban Gardens programs engage youth in nature-based activities while fostering environmental stewardship and community involvement. These programs connect participants with nature, teaching them sustainability, health, and leadership. Youth learn to advocate for environmental and health equity in their communities, gaining hands-on experience in areas like urban gardening, bike repair, and environmental science. By aligning with California’s educational standards, these programs emphasize STEM concepts, sustainability, and personal responsibility. They empower students to become environmental advocates and community leaders, inspiring long-term positive change and promoting a legacy of environmental justice and healthier neighborhoods.

La Familia collaborates with community-based organizations like Always Knocking, Hooked on Fishing Not Violence, and United Latinos. What we all have in common is serving our at-risk and underserved communities through inclusive approaches and social rehabilitation programs as trusted messengers in the community. We have all combined our resources and brought our communities together to provide fruitful outdoor opportunities that they otherwise would not have access to if not for this program.

We are also eager to continue exploring partnerships with JEDI, a sector of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife as well as the California State parks. In August of 2023 our staff and 6 of our partner's youth leaders and staff which included Always Knocking, Hooked on Fishing Not Violence, and United Latinos completed the California State Park's 3-day overnight training in order to become certified outdoor recreation leaders. This Juntos program granted us the opportunity to attend training to become more knowledgeable and now we will be able to safely host camping trips for our communities, which we are looking forward to completing for the upcoming summer of 2024.

Compton Unified School District (CUSD) is an ideal partner. We work with CUSD Administrators and teachers to select and recruit youth and their families to participate in the OEP programs. We were able to provide our 500 participants with backpacks that they can use as at their discretion as they prepare for the activities in the community and natural area trips. Our accomplishments include coordinating with CUSD and our partners planning the timing, location and recruitment for the remaining activities. We are developing a new partner relationship with an organization that has a cycling program that will fit with our programming and equipment needs of the "Engineer Your Own Bicycle". We are coordinating with CUSD to recruit and train the bike instructors and mechanics. Dates targeted Summer 2025. We are developing the curriculum, experiences and locations for the Environmental Exploration Day and Nature Walks and Urban Garden Experts. Date targeted May 2025.

A tip that our Juntos Afuera team would recommend for future Outdoor Programs would be to have an understanding of the history and landscape you are visiting that goes beyond a browser search.

A successful method in guaranteeing a great outdoor experience is asking the community first where they would like to explore. With the community's input, our team invested time researching the trips that we would eventually plan and travel to. The process of planning a trip and having ambassadors within the community is an important part of the process in aiding them to experience first hand the healing in nature and become better stewards of our environment.

An unforeseen challenge can be visiting places that are not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. A recommended solution would be visiting the area beforehand if is within your home radius or consulting a staff member to ensure your community can have an inclusive experience.

Lastly, traveling with an emergency plan is essential to assure the safety of the community and staff.

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