CALIFORNIA

San Francisco and the Bay Area

Our summer service adventure begins and ends in the great city of San Franciso, which gives us plenty of time to explore the iconic metropolis. 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.

Marin County

Tucked across the Golden Gate Bridge only a few miles from San Francisco lies a sprawling playground of coastal mountains, redwood trees, and secluded beaches! Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the San Fransisco Bay, Marin has some of the the most sought out destinations in the Bay Area. While doing our best to mitigate our time spent in urban areas this summer, we are presented with the exciting opportunity to take even more advantage of this incredible landscape. Whether we search for wildlife along the Point Reyes National Seashore, climb the slopes of Mount Tamalpais to watch the fog roll in, or wander the towering redwood groves of Muir Woods, our adventures in Marin are sure to be among highlights of our adventure!

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park was among the first three National Parks created in America. Well known for its towering waterfalls and towering granite slabs, Yosemite is as wild as it is beautiful. 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.

In this region, we have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the National Forest Service to give back to this amazing part of our country. Our community service program gives students the opportunity to build, preserve and maintain natural areas that grant visitors access to the outdoors.

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 and Surfing

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!

In the Bay, we also take a chance to explore the Golden Gate Bridge by walking under its bright red supports. Here we gain even more spectacular views of Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the hundreds of sailboats dotting the water. In Stinson Beach, we have a morning of fun in the sun while taking some surf lessons on the world-famous break of the Pacific Ocean!

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