While the Summer of Service program was not a residential program (Thank God!) there were two overnights included in the program schedule.
The first overnight was on our campus in Sacramento. A giant slumber party in 943, our multipurpose building, we had the kids sleep over so that we could head out super early the next morning for a service project on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. The group was split in two for this trip, so while each participant had this overnight only once, the crew leaders had the pleasure of two teen filled overnights and 4am wake-up calls. In order to make the staff ferry to Alcatraz we left Sacramento at 5am. Sadly the day that my group went on the trip, it was pouring rain in both Sacramento and San Francisco. It was our only rainy day during the entire summer program.
We arrived in San Francisco without any problems and with a little extra time left before we needed to gather at the ferry, Allison and I walked over to Fisherman's Wharf with the Earth Crew. We stopped in a coffee shop (the only place open that early) and walked around the deserted tourist area. Then we met the Fire Crew at the ferry and boarded the boat. When we arrived at Alcatraz we met with Shelia, who works with the Alcatraz Gardens through Golden Gate Parks and set to work. Fairly soon after we began weed removal, the rain was too strong to continue outdoors so we left our stuff in a green house nearby and headed up to the prison for an audio tour.
The first overnight was on our campus in Sacramento. A giant slumber party in 943, our multipurpose building, we had the kids sleep over so that we could head out super early the next morning for a service project on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. The group was split in two for this trip, so while each participant had this overnight only once, the crew leaders had the pleasure of two teen filled overnights and 4am wake-up calls. In order to make the staff ferry to Alcatraz we left Sacramento at 5am. Sadly the day that my group went on the trip, it was pouring rain in both Sacramento and San Francisco. It was our only rainy day during the entire summer program.
We arrived in San Francisco without any problems and with a little extra time left before we needed to gather at the ferry, Allison and I walked over to Fisherman's Wharf with the Earth Crew. We stopped in a coffee shop (the only place open that early) and walked around the deserted tourist area. Then we met the Fire Crew at the ferry and boarded the boat. When we arrived at Alcatraz we met with Shelia, who works with the Alcatraz Gardens through Golden Gate Parks and set to work. Fairly soon after we began weed removal, the rain was too strong to continue outdoors so we left our stuff in a green house nearby and headed up to the prison for an audio tour.
The Alcatraz audio tour is very well done and everyone seemed to really enjoy the visit.
After the tour was over, we officially called the day of work and headed back to the ferry and back to Sacramento. Our crew made a quick stop off for a snack at Wendy's, and then the two day straight work experience was over and shuttles left campus to drive participants home for the day.
Later that same week, for Friday and Saturday, the entire Summer of Service group headed north into the Sierras for an overnight at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, CA. The purpose of the trip was for some outdoor time and team building activities. My group (crews fire and earth) were not super in to the team building activity portion of the trip and frustrated that they never made it to the more exciting ropes course activities because they were not working very well together. They did have some wonderful moments though, doing really well and having fun with certain activities.
Later that evening, frustration grew for both crew leaders and participants. Inappropriate behavior and rumors of planned sneak outs and nighttime meeting spots, caused a all program time out so to speak. Abby gave the group a serious talking to and we had them sit along the walls of the dining hall for an hour.
The evening turned out pretty well after that. Mandy, from the camp staff walked us around the grounds and then we had a camp fire and s'mores before turning in for bed. Because of the rumored sneak outs, crew leaders had to sleep quite literally in front of each cabin exit, but there were no subsequent problems.
The next day we played a game of frisbee golf and then went on a wonderful hike up to a look out point. Despite the numerous complaints from participants, the crew leaders loved the hike and were pretty impressed with some of the more determined and dedicated participants who made it up the mountain without complaint.
Green 2 Atop the Mountain at Grizzly Creek Ranch
The Entire Summer of Service Group: Participants, Crew Leaders, and Abby
After the hike was lunch and then back to Sacramento. The overnights were over, it was a holiday weekend for the 4th of July (so we had two days off in a row!) and then we had the last week of the program.
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