Let’s go outside, Richmond! ¡Vamos afuera, Richmond!

Together, we connect richmond youth and families with nature through Frequent, meaningful and connected experiences.

our work

The Richmond Outdoors Coalition is a group of organizations who provide a coordinated pathway of outdoor experiences for Richmond youth and families in select schools in West Contra Costa Unified School District, including field trips, gardening, recess activities, family programs and leadership opportunities in Richmond and beyond.

Program Pathways

Program Slider

Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT) provides Hiking Leadership Training, offering a full-day professional development workshop for WCCUSD teachers to learn how to confidently lead student hiking trips.

Bike Bus is a family-friendly ride, led by ROC Steering Committee Member Maria Weatherborne, for people (ages 7+) to YES Fest at Nicholl Park.

ESCAPE Club at DeJean Middle School takes students on outdoor field trips to destinations such as Yosemite, San Francisco, and Tahoe for snow activities, and hosts a year-end family celebration.

Golden Gate Bird Alliance offers engaging eco-education and birding programs for classrooms, including field trips for students at Richmond High School.

Growing Together offers gardening classes and farm field trips for students at Nystrom Elementary.

Headwaters Science Institute leads after-school science inquiry and field days for TK-6th grade at Nystrom.

Inner City Bliss leads mindfulness and movement sessions for every K-3rd grade class at Verde and Nystrom as well as family outings annually for the whole school.

KIDS for the BAY provides watershed education classroom sessions, and field trips for students at Nystrom and Verde Elementary Schools.

The Watershed Project leads watershed and ocean education programs with field trips at Nystrom, Verde, and Richmond High School, and supports a 600-hour internship for Richmond youth.

YES Nature to Neighborhoods leads weekend family camp at YMCA Camp Loma Mar, after-school family events for Nystrom and Verde, and monthly recess enrichment for all students at both schools.

Yoots provides the transportation for all Richmond Outdoors Coalition field trips

Photo credit: ESCAPE Club

our impact

We bring nature-based programs to students and families at four Richmond schools, reaching over 1,000 participants each year through 200+ outdoor learning experiences. From field trips to family programs, the Richmond Outdoors Coalition helps youth grow academically, socially, and emotionally through joyful, hands-on connections with nature. Dive deeper into our impact.

Annual findings:

1,049

program participants

5.4

program experiences per participant

25

programming hours per participant

200+

programs

Our values

Our Core Values—chosen by youth, steering committee members, and program partners—ground our work, guiding decisions and keeping us aligned with what matters most.

Roots and Purpose

Values Slider

We nurture curiosity and lifelong learning by asking questions, exploring new perspectives, and drawing wisdom from the natural world.

We act with responsibility and care so that future generations inherit a thriving, equitable, and sustainable world.

We support the holistic health of people, communities, and ecosystems, recognizing their deep interconnection.

We practice empathy, generosity, and care for all beings, fostering inclusive and supportive communities.

We collaborate across diverse perspectives and strengths, working together to achieve shared goals.

We listen deeply and honor the experiences of both people and the natural world, building connection and respect.

Thank you to the riddell family foundation, the richmond fund for children and youth, west contra costa unified school district and all of the program partners who provide matching funds and in-kind support: bay area wilderness training, escape club, golden gate bird alliance, growing together, headwaters science institute, Inner city bliss, kids for the bay, the watershed project, yes nature to neighborhoods and Yoots.

Photo Credit: ESCAPE Club

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LET'S GO OUTSIDE, RICHMOND!

¡vamos afuera, richmond!

LET'S GO OUTSIDE, RICHMOND! ¡vamos afuera, richmond!