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> Home > Inner City Outings Inner City Outings
Inner City Outings (ICO) is a community outreach program of the Sierra Club that provides low-income, inner city youth with trips to the wilderness. The Sierra Club San Francisco Bay chapter established the first ICO group in 1971. Today, a dedicated core of volunteer Leaders located in approximately 50 cities across the United States work with local social service agencies and schools to provide wilderness experiences for people who otherwise might not have them. The Jacksonville ICO Chapter was established in May 1998 through the vision of Jimmy Orth and other volunteers. Today, the Northeast Florida ICO chapter is led by Claudia Germano (outcoming chair) and Steven Ruge (incoming chair). Currently we are working with children who live in Hollybrook Homes (on King Street in Jacksonville) and attend West Jacksonville Elementary School. With the guidance of ICO volunteer leaders, participants discover the beauty of wild lands and how to enjoy these places without harming them. Young people learn valuable survival skills and develop the ability to face challenges outside their urban evrionments. Interpersonal skills and self-esteem grow as a natural result of teamwork and an active relationship with the outdoors.
ICO volunteers are certified and trained in recreational, outdoor, and safety skills as well as environmental education. ICO leaders enable youth of divers cultural and ethnic backgrounds to participate in a multitude of outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, kayaking, cycling, sailing, surfing, snorkeling, and service outings. To preserve and protect the wilderness for future generations, it is vital that the environmental community engages people of wide-ranging ethnicities, cultures, and abilities. The Sierra Club, through the ICO program, hopes to infuse the environmental community with the power of diversity. If you would enjoy regularly leading outings with our children, please contact Claudia Germano at neflSierraICO@aol.com or (904) 268-9875. 12915 Silver Oak Drive Check out the following links for pictures from past outings and information for how you can donate or volunteer to help our Inner City Outings program! 2006 Past Events and Activities 2007 Past Events and Activities 2008 Past Events and Activities Donate to Inner City Outings
Volunteer with Inner City Outings
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