Cultural Competency Project (CCP)

The Authority funded Bay Area Wilderness Training's South Bay Capacity Building Project (Getting Underserved Youth Outside). This project expanded services in Santa Clara County through hiring a new South Bay Community Outreach Coordinator, conducting a Hiking Leadership Training course, conducting two Front Country Leadership Training courses, and expanding outdoor equipment lending and trip support services through the Milpitas Gear Library. This project will increase the number of program partners and environmental educators in Santa Clara County and boost the number of outdoor trips and diverse youth visiting Authority land and other area parks, including Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

The Authority helped to fund the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society’s Tai Chi and Family Yoga, which will provide weekly and monthly programming to Bay Area families. Participants benefitted physically and mentally by experiencing a low-impact form of exercise surrounded by nature and wildlife. Hosting these types of programs at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge will also foster a sense of community among participants, allowing them to feel connected to each other, which also aids in their connection to the natural resources. In addition to exercise during these programs, attendees also participated in nature walks where they learned about the Refuge, habitats surrounding the Bay, wildlife that rely on these habitats, and their importance to the ecosystem.

The urban bird banding station Coyote Creek Field Station performs research, skills training, and innovative science-focused educational outreach. The grant will fund field station improvements to accommodate the expansion of education and community outreach activities. Facility improvement planning will be extensively informed by consultation with educators, with a priority focus on engaging with underserved communities, to ensure that the expansion serves local needs.