Calendar

Oakland High Newcomers Yosemite Camping

Oakland High Newcomers, mainly from Central America, about 15 older students, plan to camp at the entrance to Yosemite National Park for two nights to explore the park.  The group is very interested.  The trip should be a wonderful experience both them and the ICO volunteers. 

Camping Trip to Big Basin State Park with ARISE

Taking high schools students from ARISE Academy in Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland to Big Basin State Park for two nights of camping and hiking.

Camp Phoenix — Del Valle Lake

We'll be going with Camp Phoenix to Del Valle Lake — hiking and beach time, with a great group of kids!

Day Hike in Chabot Park

Harbor House will be taking approximately 10, 4th and 5th grads students from Franklin Elementary School in Oakland to Chabot Park in the East Bay for a picnic lunch, hike in the redwood trees, and environmental discussion and activities.  We will drive from Franklin School when the students get out at 1:20 pm.

Frick Middle School day-hike to Redwood Park

The Frick Middle School Hiking club will take its final hike of this school year on Tuesday afternoon, May 28, 2019, departing from the Frick campus at 1:30 pm, to hike in Redwood Regional Park, a short distance away in the Oakland hills, returning to Frick by 5:30 pm.  The group is lively and enthusiastic about getting into our nearby open space.  Our first two ICO supported hikes were great fun for all, students, teachers, and ICO volunteers. 

OIHS to Anthony Chabot, Puma Point

We'll be introducing the joys of backpacking and camping to a group of 25 excited 9th-12th graders!  Our students at Oakland International H.S. are all recent immigrants from around the globe who will bring their own fantastic life experiences and our school's lovely sense of community to the trip.  This trip is the 3rd of 3 frontcountry backpacking trips dedicated to teaching this group about backpacking & camping. Students will also be working in groups to cook a meal for the whole group based on a menu of their own design. We'll be taking public transit to Anthony Chabot Regional Park. We'll be hiking a few miles in the park, camping at Puma Point, enjoying the view of the lake, cooking, BBQing, and playing some teambuilding games.  

ICO implicit bias / micro aggression training

As part of our ongoing volunteer training, Youth Outside will join us for a 2-hour workshop on Implicit Bias and Micro Aggression. As ICO volunteers we work with diverse groups of youth and adults, with backgrounds and cultures unfamiliar to us. The goal of the training is help us recognize how our words and actions may be seen as inclusive or divisive within these diverse communities, to help us identify unrecognized personal biases, and how we might move beyond them. 

A description of implicit bias and microaggression and taken from https://socialworkce.uconn.edu/understanding-implicit-bias-and-microaggressions/can be found below. 

 “We all have biases and prejudices which are hidden assumptions and stereotypes that exist on an unconscious level. These unconscious biases are often related to one of many social identity groups (e.g., race, gender, social class). These biases influence how we respond to and interact with all individuals, but particularly those from different cultures, religious groups, or race and ethnicities; those whom we perceive as “other.” Often what gets the most attention are overt behaviors that reveal our prejudices and demonstrate discrimination. What is frequently overlooked or not discussed are the unconscious biases that get reflected in the form of microaggressions. Microaggressions occur as the result of implicit bias and can be interpreted as commonplace verbal, behavioral or environmental insults, whether unintentional or intentional, that demean or insult others. Implicit bias is learned through the process of socialization, the same system that confers power and privilege on individuals according to their social identity group.

The goal of this seminar is to help us reflect on their own unconscious biases and become aware of microaggressions that are a part of our everyday lives. Emphasis will be placed on identifying and managing unconscious biases and microaggressions and understanding how they affect interpersonal relationships.”

OIHS to Point Reyes, Coast Camp

We'll be introducing the joys of backpacking and camping to a group of 25 excited 9th-12th graders!  Our students at Oakland International H.S. are all recent immigrants from around the globe who will bring their own fantastic life experiences and our school's lovely sense of community to the trip.  This trip is the 2nd of 3 frontcountry backpacking trips dedicated to teaching this group about backpacking & camping. Students will also be working in groups to cook a meal for the whole group based on a menu of their own design. We'll be taking a chartered bus to Point Reyes. We'll be hiking a couple of miles in the park, enjoying the beauty of the beach, learning how to build a beach bonfire, cooking, BBQing, and playing some teambuilding games.  

ICO Spring Picnic

Join ICO volunteers, family, agency leaders and future volunteers for a hike and bbq/picnic in Tilden Park.

Who: EVERYBODY! leaders, volunteers, families and agency leads/teachers.  If you have a friend who might be interested in joining, bring them along!  

Where: Tilden Regional Park, Fern Picnic Area, Kensington, CA (near the carousel on Central Park Drive - park map link below). 

What: We'll have the traditional BBQ (salmon, veggie burgers, salads, desserts and drinks), a short update on all things ICO, and then, for whoever wants to join us, a hike.  We will also be formalizing the ballot for leadership positions for our SF Bay ICO chapter. 

Park Map: https://www.ebparks.org/images/Assets/files/parks/tilden/Tilden-map-2250w64.gif; 

Tilden Regional Park Fern Picnic Area on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/RPH1gNoXox6vcs3e7

Please RSVP to the EVITE or contact Linda De Young to be added to the EVITE invite.

Linda De Young

Lindadeyo (at) aol.com

Madison Park Academy Tour and Hike at Black Diamond Mines

The Outdoor Adventure Club at Madison Park Academy will be doing there last outing of the school year at Black Diamon Mines near Antioch.  The outing will include a tour of the old mine portal with information about the mining operations that used to exist on Mt. Diablo.  The mine tour will be followed by a hike through the Diablo foothills including a stop at the old cemetary nearby the former townsites in this beautiful and not often visited part of the East Bay Regional Park system.  To participate in this outing you will need to be cleared as a volunteer with Oakland Unified.  Information about what is required is included on the ICO web site and will involve getting a TB test and LiveScan fingerprinting.  Contact Michael Fischer, mjf1155@gmail.com or 925-212-9653 for more information.

Montalvin Elementary Day Hike on Angel Island

Approximately 30 students in grades 3-5 will take BART and bus to the ferry. We will hike to the peak on the island and explore additionally.

EOBA day-hike to Redwood Park

The East Oakland Boxing Association, EOBA, has an after-school and summer program for youth from elementary through high school grades.

ICO has a long-standing partnership with the organization, and has conducted a number of hikes with their youth.

On Saturday, May 18, we will take a hike in Redwood Regional Park,in the Oakland Hills, in part as a preparation for a back-packing trip that they are planning for the summer.  The hike winds though oak forests, along a ridgeline, and drops into a streambed lined with redwood treess.  The students have always been energetic and enthusiastic.  We have always had a great time. 

Tamiscal High School Mt. Tamalpais Day Hike

Mountain Home to Larkspur point-to-point.

OIHS to Gillespie Youth Camp, Tilden Regional Park

We'll be introducing the joys of backpacking and camping to a group of 25 excited 9th-12th graders!  Our students at Oakland International H.S. are all recent immigrants from around the globe who will bring their own fantastic life experiences and our school's lovely sense of community to the trip.  This trip is the 1st of 3 frontcountry backpacking trips dedicated to teaching this group about backpacking & camping. Students will also be working in groups to cook a meal for the whole group based on a menu of their own design. We'll be taking public transit to Tilden Regional Park. On this first overnight, we'll be hiking a few miles in Tilden, cooking and BBQing, and playing some teambuilding games.  

OIHS to Redwood Regional, Redwood Bowl Picnic Area

This is the first day hike for a group of 25 excited 9th-12th graders! Our students at Oakland International H.S. are all recent immigrants from around the globe who will bring their own fantastic life experiences and our school's lovely sense of community to the trip. We’ll be hiking a few miles into the park, to Redwood Bowl Picnic Area. There, we’ll be making/eating lunch together, teaching camp cooking safety rules for the first time, and enjoying some teambuilding activities.

Day Hike in Tilden with Camp Phoenix

Camp Phoenix will have a day hike outing in Tilden Park, possibly with an animal farm stop. A great hike, great kids, great games!

Tamiscal High School Pt. Reyes Wildflower Extravaganza

Pierce Point Ranch to Tomales Point & back

Montalvin Elementary Day HIke

Eighteen students ages 9-11 explored Tilden Park along with two teachers and two ICO Volunteers. We started out visiting the animals and Environmental Education Center before hiking along the Packrat Trail to Jewel Lake. After exploring the ecology and wildlife, we set out along the Wildcat Gorge Trail, stopping for lunch at Blue Gum Picnic Area and ending at Lake Anza.

Volunteer hike in Briones EBRP

Join fellow ICO volunteers in an exploration of Briones Regional Park. We will explore the lagoons and nature area and check out one of the backpacking camps for a total of about 6 miles. https://www.ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24155

Hike starts at 9 AM, I am guessing we will be done by noon. Bring a lunch! 

We will meet at the parking area at the end of Briones Rd, just off Alhambra Valley Rd. (near the Park office - this is on the north end of the park). 

BART to Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Center and grab a ride with those who are driving. Just let me know you need a shuttle! 

If you are new to ICO, or interested in becoming a volunteer, please join us!

Day Hike to Sibley with NOCCS

We are doing a short day hike with elementary school students from North Oakland Community Charter School in north Oakland to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. During this trip we will explore rock formations  and hike to a picnic lunch. 

Frick Middle School Lafayette Reservoir Day Hike

Frick Midddle School is an OUSD school located on 82nd Ave near Foothill Blvd. Its hiking club is very enthusiastic about outdoor adventures.   Wednesday is an early release day for students, and we will gatjher at 1:30 pm to drive to Lafayette Resovoir, near Lafayette, to hike around the resevoir and return  by 5:00 pm

Beach camping at Sonoma Coast SP with Madison Park Academy

ICO and Madison Park Academy's Adventure Club are teaming up for some beachside camping and exploration! We'll enjoy the oceanfront wonders of Sonoma Coast State Park's secluded coves, scenic overviews (maybe we'll see migrating whales), tidal pools, and the wildflowers in bloom at Duncan's Landing.The group will camp for two nights and learn some of the basics of camp set-up, food preparation in addition to exploring the beautiful Sonoma County coastline.

Lake Anza Trail -- Camp Phoenix

Camp Phoenix is going on a great day hike around Lake Anza! Come join a great group for some beautiful views

Gateway Middle School Pt. Reyes Backpack

Gateway Middle School's Wilderness Club continues its outdoor adventures this year with their inaugural backpck trip. These young folks, along with solid suppoort from a dedicated & dynamic teacher, plus a few great parent volunteers, will spend a night and two days in the beautfiul Pt. Reyes National Seashore. SF ICO will be there to assist & co-lead. Contact Michael Cadigan for further information.

Gateway Middle School Hike Steep Ravine

Hike the Steep Ravine Trail near Stintson Beach

Madison Park Academy Snow Trip to Hutchinson Lodge

The Outdoor Adventure Club of Madison Park Academy will be venturing into the mountains to enjoy the last of the snow season.  We will overnight at the Sierra Club's Hutchinson Lodge where we will do sledding and snow shoeing.  In order to participate in this trip you must be a certified volunteer with OUSD.  If you are not a certified volunteer with OUSD, contact Michael Fischer for information on how to complete your certification.

China Camp with Camp Phoenix

Car camping with Camp Phoenix's 7th graders at China Camp. We will work with the park rangers on trail maintenance, go on hikes and explore beautiful China Camp State Park! 

Tamiscal HS Mt. Diablo Day Hike

From Mitchell Canyon trailhead to Deer Flat to Eagle Peak and back to trailhead.

Frick Impact Academy Hiking Club Inspiration Pt Hike

Frick Impact Academy is an Oakland Unified School District middle school located in East Oakland.  This trip is an initial ICO supported trip for a newly formed hiking club at Frick.  The trip is scheduled for a Wednesday afternoon because on that day students are released at 1:30 pm, allowing time for a reasonable hike to a nearby location with a return to Frick by 5:00 pm.  Inspiration Point, in Tilden Park, is a great destination, within about a 30 inute drive from Frick, and a parking/trailhead to a well-established trail that winds along an East Bay ridgeline with spectacular views in all directions. 

The Frick club has drawn good student interest, and is well-supported by several teachers.  Their expectation is to plan monthly outings for the rest of the school year, for now on Wednesday afternoons, but eventually for all-day hikes on Saturdays.

This is a great group to voluteer with, with the possibility of developing a long-term relation.  Note, however, that volunteers for trips with this group must go through the ICO/OUSD approval process that is set forth in the Forms/Policy section of the ICO private site, under a section "Volunteering for USD"  The procedure is not difficult, but does require obtaining a Live-Scan fingerprint/background report and a recent TB test.  ICO will pay the costs of meeting these requirements. 

Gear Library Organizing

Tal, Trevor and I need your help to sort and organize our gear library. We will be meeting at 10 AM on Saturday, February 16, at the library in Oakland. Fresh pastries will be provided! 

Gateway Middle School Day Hike #3

Gateway Middle School's Wilderness Club will venture to a beautiful redwoods canyon in the East Bay Hills for its 3rd hike of the 2018-19 school year.

Interested volunteers: pleasse contact Michael Cadigan or Provisional Leadr Alexandra Shivers Ottensen for details.

Tilden Day Hike -- Camp Phoenix

Camp Phoenix will have a day hike outing around beautiful Tilden, with a picnic lunch and games. A great hike, great kids, great games!

Classroom Preparation for Trip to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

*Rescheduled for Friday Feb. 8th.*

We are doing a pre-trip classroom presentation for elementary school students from a charter school in north Oakland. In the spring they will go to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland. During this pre-trip talk we will explore rock formations, incorporate an aspect of their “extreme conditions” science curriculum, and talk about volcanoes. 

Siena Youth Center Snow Trip to Hutchinson Lodge

The dynamic youth & staff at Redwood City's Siena Youth Center return to the high country near Donner Summit for their 3rd snow trip in 3 years, this time over the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Holiday.  We will overnight at the Sierra Club's historic Hutchinson Lodge and enjoy recreation on snow and hearty meals. Volunteers welcome. Please contact Michael Cadigan   cadpack@comcast.net

Redwoods Day Hike With Gateway Middle School

Gateway Middle School's Wilderness Club will venture to a beautiful redwoods canyon in San Mateo County for its 2nd hike of the 2018-19 school year.

Interested volunteers: pleasse contact Michael Cadigan or Provisional Leadr Alexandra Shivers Ottensen for details.

Oakland High School Adventure Club

The Oakland High School Adventure Club has planned a trip in the open space/public park regions of the Oakland hills.  The group will come together in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood to board an AC Transit bus that will take them to an entrance to Redwood Regional Park.  From there, the group will wind its way through Redwood Park and Oakland's Joaquin Miller and Dimond Parks to return to the Fruitvale District by late afternoon. 

OLT 101 Leader Training

OLT 101 leadership training 6-9PM.

Location:SF Bay Sierra Club Office, 2530 San Pablo Ave., Suite I, Berkeley

You can also join the training by Zoom Webinar. Please contact leader for email invitation to Zoom meeting.

Linda

Marin Dayhike with Gateway MS

Gateway Middle School in San Francisco launches its 2018-2019 series of adventures for the Outdoor Club, with a day hike in the Marin Headlands. Grassy hills, the ocean, and the beach! Interested volunteers can contact Michael Cadigan at cadpack@comcast.net     Prior clearance as an SFUSD volunteer or employee is helpful.

Morgan Territory Hike with Madison Park Academy

Join us on the second hike of the season with the Madison Park Academy Outdoor Adventure Club.  If you have never been to Morgan Territory on the southeast side of Mount Diablo (and even if you have) this hike is a must.  We will hike through oak savannah with views of Mt. Diablo and the Delta.  The drive alone is worth the trip and this is a great group of high schoolers.

YOU MUST BE AN APPROVED VOLUNTEER WITH OAKLAND UNIFIED TO VOLUNTEER ON THIS TRIP.

SF ICO New Volunteer Orientation

Learn how to get involved with ICO by attending our next new volunteer orientation.  This orientation is required for all new volunteers.  More information: http://www.sfbayico.org/volunteer/info

Date:  Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Time:  6pm to 7pm

Location: Sierra Club headquarters.  13th floor, 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1300, Oakland. Accessible by public transportation (19th Street BART is a few minutes away; visit 511.org).

RSVP for Orientation: https://goo.gl/forms/muqrrlCOnjwWgPY62.  This will allow us to send you a reminder and any notifications in case something changes.

Questions?  Email volunteer@sfbayico.org 

SF ICO Webinar: Online Resources and Retreat Recap

Would you like to learn more about the wealth of resources available on the SFBayICO.org website?  Please join us for a online/phone meeting.

Topics:

(1) Review the forms, policies, memos, gear inventory, descriptions of dozens of games and icebreakers, online guide to transit and trails, menus and food lists, suggested destinations and camping sites.

(2) Hear highlights and outcomes from the SF ICO Volunteer Retreat held in the Sierras this summer.

Date and Time:

Sunday, November 18 at 7pm.  The first 30-40 minutes will be a presentation by Rucker and Linda, and the remainder of the time will be for Q&A. 

If interest allows we will schedule a future session on a weekday.

-------------------------------

Topic: SF ICO Webinar: Online Resources and Retreat Recap

Time: Nov 18, 2018 7:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/771240955

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Meeting ID: 771 240 955

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/bSYLz2lWD

Montalvin Elementary Redwod Regional Hike

Montalvin Manor in San Pablo has an active outdoor adventure group of 3-5 graders. All of the student hikers were recommended by their teachers, and were enthusiastic about being outdoors. We started the hike out of the Redwood Regional Gate, following the stream trail and stopping at many interesting spots along the way to examine the forest. We then headed up the French Trail where we had a trailside lunch. We completed the loop by returning via the Orchard Trail back to our starting place. Students had free time at the end of the hike for unstructured play which they always enjoy!

Madison Park Academy Tennessee Valley Hike

Madison Park Academy, a public high school in East Oakland, will take their first day hike of the 2018/19 school year on the Miwok and Coast trails in Tennessee Valley, Marin Headlands.  This is the first hike for the new version of MPA's Outdoor Adventure Club.

Car Camp with Siena Youth Center

Come join a motivated and fun group of teens and young adults working on community betterment by assisting on this car camp in the redwoods of San Mateo County.

This is  SF ICO's 4th year supporting a team-building weekend for the NFOYI (North Fair Oaks Youth Initiative) program at the Siena Youth Center (SYC) in Redwood City.  SYC is a dynamic after-school program that serves over 120 young persons daily in the North Fair Oaks neighborhood of Redwood City. One of their programs -- for high school teens --in NFOYI, which teaches and promotes community organizing skills and goals.

The activity starts and finishes in Redwood City. Contct Michael Cadigan if you are interested.

SF ICO 2018 Volunteer Retreat

By popular demand, we are bringing back an overnight retreat for active SF ICO volunteers! This is a wonderful opportunity to go somewhere beautiful, refresh your volunteer and leader skills, hang out and hike with fellow volunteers, and contribute to the vision for ICO's next phase.

Date:
Saturday, August 25 ~10-11am to Sunday, August 26 ~4-5pm.

Location:
Sierra Club Clair Tappaan Lodge
19940 Donner Pass Rd, Norden, CA 95724
(about 3 hrs drive from Bay Area and 25 miles south of Lake Tahoe)

Program activities:
ICO organization updates and objectives, skills refresh workshops, recent lessons learned, 2 good hikes, tour of Hutchinson Lodge rustic accommodation (good for large ICO groups).

Cost:
Free for active volunteers! SF ICO will cover Sat night bunk bed, Sat lunch and family-style dinner, Sun breakfast and lunch. We encourage carpooling and will set up forum to facilitate.

Sign up:

Click here to sign up!

Tamiscal High School Muir Woods Day Hike

Muir Woods to Pan Toll to Mountain Theater, and back to Muir woods.

Camp Phoenix Overnight Car Camping

Please join for the first ICO trip, an overnight camping trip with 10 high school students, with Camp Phoenix.

Camp Phoenix was founded in 2012 by three dedicated education professionals fueled by a fire for social justice for the summertime. At the core of Camp Phoenix's founding was their belief that summer learning, which extends beyond the classroom and beyond just academics, should be accessible to all youth. Since then, Camp Phoenix has been creating educational equity for Bay Area youth each summer, realizing our founders' vision for a brighter future for our community - one of equitable access to adventure, joy, leadership, nature and opportunity. During summers, low-income youth often fall significantly behind their higher income peers, due to lack of access to learning and enrichment resources. Camp Phoenix closes this gap where it matters most - middle school - through a program that combines academics with outdoor adventure and social-emotional learning. 

East Oakland Boxing Association Day Hike

EOBA runs a youth program that includes a summer session for elementary and middle school students.  ICO has supported its program in the past by leading day hikes to various East Bay Regional Parks.  Last summer, we led two very successful day hkes, to Inspiration Point in Tilden Park and Sibley Regional Park in the Oakland hills, with groups of fun and enthusiastic third and fifth graders.  I have scheduled three day-hikes for this July, on the 5th, 9th, and 10th.  Exact location will be among local Regional Parks, with the exact route to depend upon weather and other conditions.  Each trip will include between 15 and 20 youth, and will require several volunteer drivers.  Expect a fun and lively outing!

East Oakland Boxing Association Day Hike

EOBA runs a youth program that includes a summer session for elementary and middle school students.  ICO has supported its program in the past by leading day hikes to various East Bay Regional Parks.  Last summer, we led two very successful day hkes, to Inspiration Point in Tilden Park and Sibley Regional Park in the Oakland hills, with groups of fun and enthusiastic third and fifth graders.  I have scheduled three day-hikes for this July, on the 5th, 9th, and 10th.  Exact location will be among local Regional Parks, with the exact route to depend upon weather and other conditions.  Each trip will include between 15 and 20 youth, and will require several volunteer drivers.  Expect a fun and lively outing!

East Oakland Boxing Association Day Hike

EOBA runs a youth program that includes a summer session for elementary and middle school students.  ICO has supported its program in the past by leading day hikes to various East Bay Regional Parks.  Last summer, we led two very successful day hkes, to Inspiration Point in Tilden Park and Sibley Regional Park in the Oakland hills, with groups of fun and enthusiastic third and fifth graders.  I have scheduled three day-hikes for this July, on the 5th, 9th, and 10th.  Exact location will be among local Regional Parks, with the exact route to depend upon weather and other conditions.  Each trip will include between 15 and 20 youth, and will require several volunteer drivers.  Expect a fun and lively outing!