Service in San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area

St. Anthony’s Foundation and the Glide Foundation help the impoverished of San Francisco rise above their current circumstances through free meal, clothing and technical job training programs. These programs, offered 365 days a year, are an integral part of the efforts to help alleviate poverty and suffering for people of all ages. We spend our time with these organizations sharing meals, smiles, and stories with these children, men, and women, as we brighten their days, and our own!

Working together as a group, we also learn how to start our own meal outreach program that can be used to support those in need. Packing bag lunches filled with sandwiches, water, and essentials, we take to the streets and model how we too can give back to these struggling communities in our hometown.

Discover San Francisco

No trip to the Bay Area is complete without spending time exploring the famous sights of The Golden City. Hopping into our van we cruise the cities quaint streets visiting iconic destinations. We laugh at the sea lions playing below Pier 39, ride a cable car up the steep hills, wander through Chinatown and have a chance to pick up a few souvenirs from Union Square.

While in the Bay, we also take a chance to explore the Golden Gate Bridge and the natural wonders of Marin County. Walking across the Golden Gate under it’s bright red supports, we gain even more spectacular views of Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the hundreds of sailboats dotting the water. Traveling North, we visit Stinson Beach for a day of surf lessons on the world famous break of the Pacific Ocean!

Explore Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park was one of our first National Parks and is well known for its towering waterfalls and scenic beauty. We spend three days exploring these famous sights, from the dazzling granite cliffs of Half Dome to the serene waters of the Tuolumne River. As we venture around this amazing place we take the opportunity to frolic through El Capitan Meadow or take a refreshing hike along the picturesque Mist Trail.

As a group, we also have the incredible opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the Forest Service as we give back to this amazing region. Our community service program gives us an opportunity to build, preserve and maintain natural areas that grant visitors access to the outdoors.  Whether we assemble picnic tables, build campsites or work on beautifying trails, we are proud to give back to this world renowned national treasure.

Lake Tahoe Basin

Lake Tahoe, where California and Nevada meet, is the gem of the Sierra Nevadas. Surrounded by towering mountains that slip into clear sapphire waters, we spend three days in this amazing location playing and working hard! Joining local non-profits, we maintain trails and work to build new ones for future generations to explore. We also have plenty of time to venture into the lush pine forests, clear rivers, and alpine blue lakes which make Tahoe such a premier destination.

Whitewater Kayaking on Cache Creek

Traveling back towards the Bay, through California’s Central Valley, we find ourselves at the hidden treasure of Cache Creek. Weaving through lush mountain valleys, Cache Creek is the perfect place to play in the summer heat. After some detailed instruction from our river guides, we learn how to safely navigate our inflatable kayaks through Class II and III rapids during this exciting day on the river!

Eventually, our incredible community service program must come to end. As we travel back to San Francisco for our final night together, we reflect on all the amazing things we encountered on our two week expedition across Northern California. As we think back to all the fun we had, we also recall the people we served, and dream of new ways to further support those in need back home.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their California Adventure and Service Program: