Orange County Inner City Outings

Information for Schools and Youth Service Agencies

Because of budget constraints, at this time Orange County ICO prefers to work with new agencies that meet one of the following criteria:

1. The agency provides its own transportation
2. The agency is located in Orange County

ICO and Agency Liaisons

• "ICO Liaison" - ICO will assign each agency an ICO volunteer designated as the "ICO Liaison," who will assist in scheduling outings and finding Leaders for that agency.
• "Agency Liaison " - Each agency should appoint an "Agency Liaison" who will assist in making outing participants aware of how to plan for the trip and the rules on the trail. This agency liaison may or may not participate in the actual outing, but they should be responsible for all major outing arranegements.
• The Liaisons should have each other’s phone numbers (cellular if possible for day of outing) and email addresses if available.

Scheduling Trips

Monthly meetings:
7:00pm on the third Wednesday of every month
Call 714-964-4488 for meeting directions.

• Trips should be scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance, unless the school or agency provides its own transportation.
• After the first trip, future trips are scheduled through the designated ICO Liaison.
• The Agency Liaison should check with the ICO Liaison to verify that the trip is scheduled as planned.
• ICO outings are "closed" activities and are not published in the Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities or any other public listing. The ICO Outing Schedule with complete details is only available to ICO volunteers who have successfully completed the clearance process. [The Outing Schedule posted on this Website includes only date, general location and Leader contact information.]

Transportation Options

• Agency can provide transport and meet ICO volunteers at a start point - usually by 8-9AM.
• Agency can rent/charter vehicles. Payment options for vehicles can be discussed with ICO Liaison. Mini vans hold 6 or 7 passengers not counting driver. School buses hold about 50-55 passengers. The quality of an outing may be better with fewer people (10 to 15 participants).
• OC ICO can furnish rental vans for outings to selected sites. Payment options for vehicles can be discussed with ICO Liaison.

Other considerations:

• Changing the date or destination of an outing requires 10 days advance notice. Please contact your ICO trip leader.
• Trip Leader should watch the weather report in order to make an informed decision regarding cancellation. A cancellation must be made at least 48 hours in advance. All parties should clarify the trip cancellation policy. In deciding on cancellation, remember the interests and safety of the participants and use common sense.

Where Trips Go

• OC ICO frequently schedules hikes in these parks:

-Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
-Bolsa Chica
-Upper Newport Bay
-Peter's Canyon
-Puente Hills (LA County)

• OC ICO also schedules restoration activities in these sites:

  - Bolsa Chica
  - Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
  - Upper Newport Bay
  - Shipley Nature Center
  - Huntington Beach
  

• Occasionally overnight camping trips can be scheduled, with possible snow trips in winter. Prior to being eligible for a camping trip, an agency must participate in at least 1-2 OC ICO day trips so ICO Leaders, and youth and adult participants get to know one another.

Pre-Trip Preparation

• Agency Liaisons are responsible for getting ICO Trip Release forms in English or Spanish and any other necessary non ICO permission slips from the parents.
• They are encouraged to prepare the children about local natural history, geography, and plant and animal life so the trip will be more meaningful and supplemental to their studies. The goal is to get the children interested in nature, rather than being just an extra exercise period.
• If possible, the ICO Leader(s) will visit the school a few days before the trip to prepare the children by setting expectations and initiating thoughtful discussion.
• Agency Liaisons also should review the "Things to Remember" list " (English & Spanish) with the participants a few days before the trip, the day before the trip, and the morning of the trip. Special attention should be paid to wearing sturdy shoes, bringing plenty of water, and the trip rules. Consult the trip leader about specific needs.
• Teachers should be mindful that the hikes are easy for some but strenuous for others. Family members and other adults accompanying the children should be in as good shape as the children themselves. Strollers cannot be accommodated on a trail and most people are not capable of carrying little children for several miles up and down trails.

The Day of the Hike

• ICO requires at least one adult from the agency for each ten children.
• Before boarding the bus, make sure that the children have remembered the items they were supposed to bring. Although the ICO leaders may have some spare items, they will not have enough for the whole group. The children should come prepared. Only adults with waivers and students with waivers and permissions slips will be allowed to hike.
• Unless otherwise arranged, the ICO leaders and volunteers for the hike will meet the school bus (or agency vehicles) at the trailhead or the outing starting point.
• ICO Leaders will conduct an orientation for the group.
• Adults should have fun, talk with the children, share their knowledge of nature, assist in maintaining order, and otherwise help the leaders as requested.

Questions? Contact ICO

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This page updated 4/18/06

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