On the first day of our Outreach program at Fernando Rivera Intermediate school, a small middle school in Daly City, we were thrilled to see the bright faces of our new young campers who were hand selected by teachers and staff as students with untapped potential for leadership and a knack for problem solving in a way that spanned beyond the four walls of the classroom. Our campers then hustled into the van, devoured snacks, and reluctantly surrendered their phones as we embarked on our short 3 mile drive to the coast. This sounds like any other day at Venture free, yet one startling difference hit us to our core; many of these kids had never been to the beach. 

Since that first day, our outreach campers have been provided with over 250 hours of outdoor exposure. We have introduced many of our campers to new locations as we explored over 40 outdoor spaces local to them. Building off of our outdoor survival skills curriculum, we have taken an interdisciplinary approach; incorporating math, science and history into our lessons. In our outdoor education program, students work comparatively and build a strong sense of community. One fernando teacher remarked; “I notice significant social-emotional development in many of the students I recommend for this program. VF campers come back to the classroom more confident in their abilities; more willing to participate in class, and collaborate with their peers. Social isolation is a huge detriment to academic success in grades 6-8. It is clear that community building is a major aspect of this program, and it is so heartwarming to know that these kids are not only being immersed in nature, but are surrounded by love from their counselors and their peers”. Fiammetta Dizon, 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher