Mission
It is FIELDGUIDES' mission to provide quality outdoor education and environmental experiences for youth throughout Northern and Central California. We hope to foster all participants with a sense of stewardship and responsibility to the natural world, by having students, teachers, and parent chaperones sleep in tents or under the stars and be involved in a community style program where all individuals partake in all aspects of the program. Whether camping or backpacking we strive to immerse youth in the great outdoors to build their senses of self and community.
Ruling year
1984
General Manager
Galen Camp
Manager
Travis Winter
Main address
P.O. BOX 270
Hornbrook, CA 96044 USA
EIN
77-0006233
NTEE code
Education N.E.C. (B99)
IRS filing requirement
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
FIELDGUIDES works to address the effects of decreasing time spent outdoors by youth. The loss of time spent outside by youth effects their physical and mental health and also their sense of connection to the natural world. With time spent in front of screens increasing the risks of encountering addictive apps and targeted advertising is on the rise. These increases affect not only the amount of time youth spend outside exercising but also affect the ways in which they view and interact with other people and the world around them. The decreasing face-to-face interactions between people and limited time spent in contact with nature also makes addressing climate change an increasingly difficult task. Without a personal connection to the natural world and without the social skills to work collectively we will not be able to tackle the active threats climate change. The results of not spending time outdoors are as harmful to personal growth and health as they are to global health.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Malakoff Diggins Gold Rush
FIELDGUIDES' Malakoff Diggins program lets students experience California Gold Rush history first hand. Our program takes place in the beautiful Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park located in the Sierra Nevada foothills. These rolling yellow pine belt forests are the home to California's largest and most profitable hydraulic mining site during the Gold Rush, the Malakoff mine. Students at our programs get to explore the mine and marvel at the socially transformative and environmentally destructive powers of the gold rush. While learning about the Gold Rush's lasting impacts on California students also get to try their hands at gold panning along Humbug Creek, searching for quartz crystals in the old hydraulic mine and touring the cemetery and old ghost town of North Bloomfield, all guided by our wonderfully creative, informative, and fun staff. Participants are outside for multiple nights which brings them closer to nature and helps them foster a sense of stewardship for the Earth.
California Coastal Science
FIELDGUIDES offers coastal science programs at varied locations along California's Central and Northern coastline. These programs offer activities and information such as tide pooling, waterway cleanups, California Native Indian History, and trips to lighthouses, bird observatory stations, and the Monterey Bay aquarium. Different programs combine different activities depending on teacher request and content desired. Along with the in field exploration is family style camping for all participants; sleeping in tents, eating outdoors, and sharing in all activities in a communal atmosphere. FIELDGUIDES blends educational content and environmental appreciation in a way we believe instills participants with a sense of stewardship and respect for nature, and leaves them with an experience they will remember for a lifetime.
Introduction to the Outdoors: 6th Grade
Our 6th Grade Program focuses on teamwork and communication as well as introduces students to a few basic wilderness skills including fire building, knot tying, and tarp setting. During 6th grade the students will go on a three day camping trip in the fall, followed-up by a two-night backpacking trip in the spring.
Gaining Confidence: 7th Grade
Our 7th Grade Program focuses on problem-solving and collaboration. In 7th Grade the students will build upon their wilderness skills with a focus on navigation and map & compass. Students will go on a four day backpacking trip where the students will be responsible for leader major sections of the trip to practice their navigation and leadership skills.
Wilderness Leadership: 8th Grade
Our 8th Grade Program is designed to help students utilize all their skills and create a culminating backpacking expedition and community exhibition. Students will spend three days in the fall planning the food and route for their five day backpacking trip in the spring. They will also work to share what they have learned throughout their entire FIELDGUIDES experience with friends, family, and the wider community in a student-led and designed exhibition night.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goals are to get as many people outside and excited about interacting with each other and the natural world as we can. We believe that when people better understand themselves, others, and the natural world they are best able to make changes to positively impact any and all of those relationships. We work toward creating a self-actualized generation that works together to solve the challenges it faces. Foremost of these challenges are the threats posed by climate change. Our work in having youth spend time outdoors is all about getting them to enjoy, learn about, and care for the outdoors. We believe with this type of connection people are more likely to care about and make changes that will positively impact the health of our planet, and ultimately all those who dwell on it.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategies are to educate and empower youth through instruction in environmental science and outdoor living skills. Through teaching youth about natural history, ecology, climate change, and other environmental sciences we empower them with both curiosity and knowledge about the world around. Through SEL and group building activities we challenge their critical thinking skills and build strong social ties. With outdoor living skills we support them to grow introspectively and gain self confidence. By increasing their self confidence, sense of community, and knowledge of the world around them we believe that they will both have the passion and the know how to make changes in the world where it is needed most. Our organization in particular believes changes in our relationship to the natural world needs to be rethought. We believe that this rethinking process is best done with a genuine love and appreciation for the planet, one that comes from spending time learning in it and from it.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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FIELDGUIDES INCORPORATED
Board of directorsas of 12/11/2021
Lowell Fitch
Lowell Fitch
Martha Stryker
Wilson Mcfarlin
Naomi Rose
Dennis Von Elgg
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
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