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  • GIVING TUESDAY 2023
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    • Home
    • About Us
    • Philanthropic Ventures
    • Contact Us
    • GIVING TUESDAY 2023
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Philanthropic Ventures
  • Contact Us
  • GIVING TUESDAY 2023

Unlock the Magic of Nature for Oakland's Youth!

Your contribution will enable us to support trips, gear and safety equipment and more for Oakland youth. We are very grateful for your generosity.

Donate Here

OUtdoor events december 2023

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CURRENT PROGRAMS

Grow the Future

ASCEND Afuera Summer Camp

ASCEND Afuera Summer Camp

We help operate a school based garden at ASCEND, and are in partnership to help develop another plot in East Oakland. Food sovereignty and the ability to access and grow healthy food is a basic human right. And kids love to spend time outdoors during the school day digging in the soil and tasting the fruits of their labor.

ASCEND Afuera Summer Camp

ASCEND Afuera Summer Camp

ASCEND Afuera Summer Camp

This is a summer camp meant to offer fun, creative and transformative outdoor experiences for youth. Local artist-athlete-chef-gardener-carpenter-biologist in-residence will lead workshops like “Books by the Bay” and “Watercolor in Nature”, and we’ll travel to local Oakland and East Bay Regional Parks. 

EFC Outdoors

Food Distribution

Food Distribution

We gather monthly in East Bay locations to hike, paddle, pedal, camp and more while learning about the native peoples and our bioregion. Check our newsletter for local events in the garden, on the trail and beyond!

Food Distribution

Food Distribution

Food Distribution

We support biweekly food distribution in collaboration with Semifreddi's Bread and Alameda County Community Food Bank and connect more than 300 families with healthy foods.

The People

Youth Design Team

During the peak of the pandemic, we met monthly via zoom with high school students and graduates to consider what the future of school could be. This rockstar team created the what and how to take learning outdoors, consider the mental and physical health of young people, and find ways to connect to resources nearby in the community. 

From MetWest, Oakland School for the Arts, Unity High, Cristo Rey and post-secondary programs, our design team that planted the original ideas: Ariana Corona Ramos, Juan Rubio, Breanna Barboza, Ramses Moreno, Brianna Díaz, Ruth Garcia

Board of Directors

Ruth Garcia

Bernadette Pilar Zermeño

Curtis Yancy

ex-officio Jeffrey M. Embleton


We are currently expanding our board by up to three board members. Check back soon for a description of board commitments if you are looking to support outdoor equity.

Community Partners

This work is only done in community. We’re updating our partner list so that you can see the giant interdependent web of what it means to raise the next generation.

Please support us

Your contribution will enable us to support trips, gear and safety equipment and more for Oakland youth. We are very grateful for your generosity.

Donate Here

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Can you see the forest and the trees?