Vida Verde Nature Education

Thousands of low-income students in the Bay Area have never walked in the redwoods, seen the Pacific Ocean, or had the opportunity to explore beyond their often dangerous, impoverished neighborhoods.  Since 2001, Vida Verde has provided over 9,500 students with such experiences, and in doing so has ignited imaginations, sparked interest in the environment, linked classroom lessons to reality, and helped boost self-confidence. 

While there are other overnight outdoor education programs in the Bay Area, Vida Verde is the only one that works exclusively with under-resourced schools and offers 100% free programs for low-income students. With 15 years of experience working solely with disadvantaged students and under-resourced schools, we’ve been able to develop our program structure and educational philosophy to meet their unique needs, and thus maximize their success.

Each week, one class of low-income students attends a once-in-a-lifetime three-day camping trip along with their teacher.  The trip takes place at our 100-acre camp & farm, and nearby state parks and beaches, and centers around five core elements:
1. Nature Hike in the Redwoods,
2. Goat Milking & Cheese Making,
3. Tidepool, Beach & Marsh Exploration,
4. Organic Farm Tour & Taste, and
5.  Night-time Hike and Trust Walk. 

Many of the activities are “first-time” experiences for most of the children served. 

To ensure that the students succeed, the trip is carefully structured with eye-opening, fun activities coupled with clear and attainable expectations, consistency, and opportunities to recognize and reflect upon successes. With this foundation in place, the program is a vehicle with which to achieve our overarching goal: to positively and powerfully impact our students’ academic performance, character development, and connection to the outdoors.