Concord Clinics and Events

REI Gives: 2009 Bay Area Grant Recipients

2009-2010

Annually, REI dedicates a portion of its operating profits to help protect and restore the environment, increase access to outdoor activities, and encourage involvement in responsible outdoor recreation. REI employees nominate organizations, projects, and programs in which they are personally involved to receive funding or gear donations.

Acterra/Volunteers for Outdoor California:
Engaging Volunteers, Strengthening Communities
Volunteers for Outdoor California organizes volunteers for multi-day, campsite-based trail construction, trail maintenance and habitat restoration activities on public lands. Founded in 2006, V-O-Cal has engaged over 1,700 volunteers in one or more projects. V-O-Cal has an exciting and ambitious project season planned for 2009, bringing their brand of environmental stewardship to ten (10) parks throughout the greater Bay Area. They will engage 1500-2000 volunteers to build and repair trail and habitat. Volunteerism and service have gained new emphasis on a national scale, and V-O-Cal projects provide each individual volunteer with an opportunity to join a community of stewards and see direct and tangible evidence of the value of their contribution to their communities. Increasingly, V-O-Cal's pairing of socialization with tangible results is creating a robust community of stewards throughout Northern California. To date they have partnered with REI's in Concord, San Carlos, Santa Rosa, Saratoga, and Mountain View, and will be working with San Francisco, Berkeley, and Fremont in 2009.

Waterside Workshops:
Youth On-The-Water Program
Waterside Workshops provides a community education center where youth from surrounding neighborhoods come to learn new skills and explore the outdoors. REI's grant will support Waterside Workshops' expansion of the on-the-water portion of its youth boatbuilding and skill development program. The program will provide paddling experiences for local youth in their neighboring estuary everyday after school. By taking part in this program, urban youth will gain a sense of empowerment and confidence in their own ability to enjoy the outdoors and care for the natural areas where they spend time. The program will additionally engage the community in caring for an urban park through volunteer service and stewardship. REI's funds will specifically support staff coordination and oversight of the on-the-water paddling portion of the program.

The Delta Science Center at Big Break:
Outdoor Environmental Education and recreation
Delta Science Center is partnering with the Marine Science Institute to offer outdoor science activities at the DSC site at Big Break Shoreline. The Big Break area is very conducive to outdoor gatherings, hiking, kayaking, fishing, bird watching and exploring wetland animals and plants. September will offer an opportunity for the DSC to partner with the City of Oakley in offering recreation activities at the site. All of these activities will encourage students to get outside and enjoy the area while learning how important it is to conserve the Delta and work with nature in all parts of their life. Teachers and students from the schools in the Oakley and Brentwood area will be targeted to participate in these programs as part of their science curriculum. REI dollars will be used to support staffing costs for outdoor science activities while also supporting snacks, educational materials and event promotion for September recreation opportunities.

Save Mount Diablo:
Save Mount Diablo Stewardship Program 09/10
Save Mount Diablo (SMD) will use REI grant funds to support its volunteer-based Land Stewardship Program. As part of SMD's efforts to protect natural lands from development, the organization acquires private lands and hold them until a public agency is able to take them over for permanent preservation and public recreation. While properties are in possession of SMD, the organization works with many partners and volunteers to clean up debris, restore the natural habitat and develop recreational opportunities on the property consistent with the protection of natural resources. REI's grant will provide supplies and materials for additional stewardship activities and increased volunteer involvement in a variety of projects. Specifically the grant will fund fencing to protect habitat and wildlife, tools for non-native plant mapping and removal, and tools for trail building and maintenance.

Conservation Corps North Bay:
Project ReGeneration
Conservation Corps North Bay's (CCNB) Project ReGeneration summer program for middle and high school students introduces participants to a stimulating blend of community service, environmental education and recreational activities. Offered in two 4-week sessions every summer, ReGen channels the energy and ingenuity of youth for a summer experience that's as meaningful as it is fun. Members select, design and implement service projects that benefit the community as well as impart teamwork skills, build self-confidence and instill environmental, service and work ethics. Activities include habitat restoration and planning and organizing volunteer service projects. REI's grant will fund Americorps and youth leadership and coordination for project ReGen.

Young Mens Christian Association Of San Francisco/YMCA Point Bonita Oudoor & Conference Center:
My Home, My Community, My World Outdoor Education Program
Through outdoor exploration, hands-on science, stewardship projects, and community building challenges, the YMCA Point Bonita's My Home, My Community, My World Outdoor Education Program empowers youth with skills to create sustainable futures for themselves and their environment. As part of this program, funding from REI will bring elementary students to the spectacular Marin Headlands for a full day program, and middle schoolers for a two-day residential program where they will participate in Water Quality Monitoring, invasive plant removal, and Pacific Mole Crab Monitoring projects. REI's grant will provide funding for naturalists who will lead students during their time at Point Bonita. REI grant funds will also cover transportation, food and lodging costs for students who would otherwise not have the resources to attend the program.

East Bay Regional Park District:
Ivan Dickson Volunteer Trail Maintenance Program
Since 1996, over 5,500 volunteers have contributed more than 23,000 hours maintaining and enhancing the hiking, biking and equestrian trails of the East Bay Regional Park District via the Ivan Dickson Volunteer Trail Maintenance Program. Working side-by-side with trained District staff, volunteers remove overgrown vegetation, repair damage from normal wear and tear, and work to reduce the damage caused by erosive force of winter rains. Volunteers of all ages and abilities achieve a sense of accomplishment, a connection to the community, and a great outdoor experience while providing a much-needed source of labor for maintaining the District's 1,100 miles of trails. REI's grant will enhance the program's volunteer recruitment capacity through increased promotion and communication capacity. REI funds will also provide critical supplies and tools for volunteers to use for trail construction and maintenance.

Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Foundation:
(MERITO) Inspiring environmental stewardship among multicultural youth
Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans (MERITO) provides programming integrating watershed and ocean science into public education and private sector programs. MERITO works in collaboration with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, local school districts, after-school programs and natural resource management agencies to implement meaningful watershed experiences for students through the MERITO Academy. The MERITO Academy gives culturally diverse middle school youth the opportunity to experience meaningful watershed and ocean science activities through hands-on field and in-class experiences while building pride and stewardship towards their local environment. Funding from REI will support transportation to and from local natural areas for MERITO Academy participants and provide supplies for MERITO Academy site-restoration projects.

University Corporation at Monterey Bay on behalf of the Return of the Natives Restoration Education Program:
Engaging Kids in the Restoration of Monterey Bay Habitats
The Return of the Natives (RON) 'Engaging Kids in the Restoration of Monterey Bay Habitats' Project will take students and volunteers from the Monterey Bay area on a five-part experience through the 'Cycle of Restoration'. This five-part experience in environmental stewardship will occur over one year and is designed to give students and community members a full understanding of the process and importance of restoring and caring for native habitats. REI's grant funding will provide critical support for program leadership and coordination of content, experiential learning and volunteer relationships.

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition:
Bike to the Movies
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition will host a series of recurrent Bike to the Movies nights. Participants will be strongly encouraged to ride their bicycles, preferably in organized group rides, to a local theater for a screening of a bicycle-themed film accompanied by a speaker of interest from the bicycling world. Arrival by bicycle will give participants a significant ticket price discount. The program seeks to get people on their bikes, immerse them in bicycle culture and reinforce the notion that bicycling is a fun, exciting activity and lifestyle. REI's grant funds will help support staff hours needed to organize volunteers, arrange show times, and coordinate outreach and promotion of the program. Additionally, the funds will be used for supplies and promotional materials.

Bay Area Ridge Trail Council:
Volunteer Outreach & REI-Ridge Trail Service Day Around the Bay
The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council plans, builds, and promotes a 550+-mile continuous path on the ridgelines in nine counties around the San Francisco Bay for hikers, runners, bikers, and equestrians. REI funds will be leveraged for increased Volunteer Coordinator work to plan and carry out several major trail events and work days, including a 2nd annual REI--Ridge Trail Service Day Around the Bay. Trail projects build awareness about nearby trail opportunities and build support for the broad Ridge Trail vision. Volunteers play a vital role in the maintenance and completion of the Ridge Trail as well as supporting the Council's major events, leading outings, assisting with advocacy, outreach, publicity and administrative support.

San Mateo County Parks And Recreation Foundation:
San Mateo County Parks Trail Restoration Program
REI's grant will strengthen the San Mateo County Parks Trail Restoration Program by building community awareness about the effort and increasing participation in volunteer service. The goal of the program will be to increase the participation of adults by 60% and of youth by 90%, and to restore at least 9 miles of deteriorated trails. In addition to featuring single day events, the program will seek to develop repeat volunteers who feel a greater sense of ownership of the program and recruit others to be involved. Event scheduling, promotion and rewards strategies will be used to encourage continued participation and engagement in the program. The program will also place a strong emphasis on developing a sense of stewardship in young people who participate in the trail building and rehabilitation events. REI's grant will support program coordination, promotion and project supplies.

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy:
Urban Trail Blazers
Established in 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner that supports and assists the Golden Gate National Parks in research, interpretation and conservation programs. Youth programs are offered at the park at the Crissy Field Center. The program being funded by REI is Urban Trailblazers (UTB). UTB is a summer program for young people grades 6-8 based in the Golden Gate National Parks. UTB combines outdoor education, environmental stewardship and recreation to create a unique and enriching experience for a diverse group of urban youth. Young people come together in the parks to develop a sense of ownership and stewardship through restoration, backpacking and education. Each summer, UTB's rich combination of outdoor education and service learning includes hands-on projects, scientific investigation and excursions in the field. With trail-building as the program's guidling activity, youth do actual work on trails in the parks, hike, learn about the natural and cultural significance of our national parks and explore ecology.

San Francisco Parks Trust:
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's Youth Stewardship Program
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's Youth Stewardship Program (YSP) engages youth, 4th-12th grade, in environmental education and service-learning projects in parks city-wide. The program's mission is to foster in youth an understanding of their important role in helping to build healthy social and natural communities. Any youth group in San Francisco may take part in the program free of cost. A classroom visit launches the program and is followed by five field trips to a park in easy walking distance or short bus ride from the partipating school. Field trips address environmental education themes--including Leave No Trace--and provide physical challenges that inspire teamwork and leadership and introduce students to outdoor recreation opportunities in their own neighborhood. REI Funds will be used to support program coordination, leadership and development.

Youth Science Institute:
Nature Walk and Creek Exploration: Outdoor Exploration Programs for At-Risk Youth
Youth Science Institute (YSI) inspires enthusiasm for science, a love of learning, and earth stewardship in 30,000+ pre-K through 12th grade students each year in Silicon Valley, CA. YSI partners with nature to teach kids science and stewardship at three park-based Science and Nature Centers, in the classroom, and on the trail. YSI's programs develop the critical thinking skills necessary for academic success and kindle in children a love of nature. REI's grant will support YSI's school-year outdoor exploration and hiking programs and summer science camps. Grant funds will specifically support program instructors and materials to ensure that youth have a positive, safe and educational outdoor experience.