California: Golden State -
High school adventure and community service trip
July 26 - August 9, 2020
Inspiring a love for new environments and the outdoors, our high school adventure and community service trip in California combines environmental service work and exciting adventure activities.
To start off the program, we will begin by exploring San Francisco and the surrounding area. We will learn about the beautiful and diverse city, and then venture out of the city to take in the Marin Headlands and Muir Woods.
In just two weeks, I gained confidence, I no longer felt so insignificant in such a big world, I was happier, and I had found a place in the RLT family.” - RLT alumna
Next we grab a paddle, hop into a big yellow raft, and have some fun on the American River. Then it’s on to Yosemite National Park, where we explore the valley in the shadows of Half Dome and El Capitan. Up next is our chance to dive into some environmental community service; we will volunteer with Friends of the INYO to preserve mountain trails and tackle meaningful, science-based and collaborative conservation projects.
We wrap up the last few days of the trip with more adventure and fun! Lake Tahoe is next, where we soar on an aerial course and paddle board or sea kayak. Then we'll travel to Half Moon Bay, where we will give surfing a try! After all that, we head back to San Francisco to wrap up our Bay Area adventure.
Keep scrolling to learn more about our high school adventure and community service trip!
Highlights
California // You Don't Want to Miss...
#1 San Francisco
America's favorite city is so beautiful, exciting, diverse, and cosmopolitan that you can always find something new to see and do. The list is endless, and includes major attractions like Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world.
#2 Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area begins where the Pacific Ocean meets the San Francisco Bay. All in all, it is the largest urban national park in the world, a whopping 76,500 acres of land and water that includes 28 miles of wild coastline.
#3 Muir Woods National Forest and Mt. Tamalpais State Park
In this cathedral of redwoods, the residents are as high as skyscrapers. Mt. Tamalpais State Park surrounds the woods and offers hikes with breathtaking mountain, ocean, and San Francisco views.
#4 Raft the American River
Time to grab a paddle, hop into a raft, and enjoy some wet, wild, and adventurous fun on the South Fork of the American River. Don’t let names like Meatgrinder, Troublemaker, Satan’s Cesspool, and Dead Man’s Drop scare you!
#5 SUP in Lake Tahoe
Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) has gained popularity as one of the best human-powered activities and fits any skill level. There’s no better way to get on the water and experience the sweeping mountain views and clear blue lake.
#6 Yosemite National Park
Enclosed by near-vertical, mile-high cliffs covering 761,000 acres and laced with waterfalls, granite cliffs, hiking trails, crystal clear streams, and climbing routes, the dramatic geology of Yosemite Valley is among the country’s finest scenery.
#7 Half Moon Bay
Nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and some of the most striking coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, Half Moon Bay offers some great surfing and is a stone’s throw from San Francisco.
#8 Pier 39 Fisherman's Wharf
A few California sea lions began hanging out on Pier 39′s K dock after the earthquake hit San Francisco in October 1989. By January 1990, the boisterous barking pinnipeds came in droves and completely took over, much to the exasperation of Pier 39′s marina tenants.
#9 High and Low Ropes Course
Navigate rope swings, cross wobbly bridges, traverse tightropes, zip to the next platform, and land delicately (and safely) on a cargo net, all the while surrounded by nature.
Hold your spot now. Click here to enroll!
Overview
10 - 15 Community Service Hours
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Environmental Community Service with Friends of the INYO. Projects consist of trail maintenance, trash removal, cutting logs, and other needs in the area.
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A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total hours worked and a Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program.
Activities
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Explore: San Francisco, Pier 39 Seals, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Forest, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Marin Headlands
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Whitewater Raft: American River
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Ropes Course: Lake Tahoe
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Sea Kayak or Paddle Board: Lake Tahoe
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Bike: Yosemite National Park, Sierra National Forest
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Hike: Glacier Point
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Surf: Half Moon Bay
Completing Grades
8 - 12
Duration
15 Days
Tuition (Airfare and baggage fees not included)
$3,995
Accommodations
While in the Bay area, we sleep in bunkbeds in a hostel. The remainder of the program is spent camping in tents. Showers are available; however, we shower every three to four days to conserve resources and support sustainability. Bathrooms are flush toilets at the hostel and a mix of flush and latrine while camping.
Arrive/Depart
San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Social Media
Join in on the fun! Check out #PacsunRLT for a behind-the-scenes look at photos from past participants and leaders.
Hold your spot now. Click here to sign up
Itinerary
Arrival (Day 1):
All arrive in San Francisco, CA.
The City by the Bay (Day 2):
Explore the best of San Francisco. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, ride the cable car, and see the Golden Gate Bridge.
Muir Woods (Day 3):
Head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, home to some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world. Hike in Mount Tamalpais State Park and gaze down at the city, east toward the Sierra Nevada and west over the Pacific.
Raft the American River (Day 4):
Raft on the Class III American River, a California classic.
Explore Yosemite and Environmental Conservation (Days 5-8):
Explore the famous Yosemite Valley on bikes, spotting climbers high on El Capitan and Half Dome. Partner with Friends of the INYO to restore Eastern Sierra trails and take part in meaningful, science-based and collaborative conservation projects.
Lake Tahoe (Days 9-12)
Kayak or paddleboard the crystalline waters of the nation’s largest alpine lake, hike in the Sierras, and test your limits on a high and low ropes course.
Half Moon Bay: (Days 13-14):
We catch the basics from some of the best instructors in the country, then test our skills on California waves. We celebrate our adventure with a memorable final banquet.
Homeward Bound (Day 15):
Head back to San Francisco and say goodbye before catching flights home.
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Need To Know!
Traveler’s Health
The Road Less Traveled does not require any vaccinations or immunizations to travel with us, other than an up-to-date tetanus shot or booster (within the last nine years).
Day-To-Day Calendar
If you’d like to receive an emailed copy of this program’s day-to-day calendar, please give our office a call anytime between 9am and 5pm CST at 773-342-5200, and we’ll happily send you one!
General Travel Info
It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT provides instructions for specific arrival and departure time windows. Those details are typically released in mid-spring.
Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare to get their student from home to the starting destination on the first day of the trip, and from the ending destination back home on the last day of the trip.
Hold your spot now. Click here to sign up
