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By David R. Shorey, San Diego County Program Director, Institute for Public StrategiesJuly 19, 2024 (San Diego) -- The Institute for Public Strategies recently launched its East County Outdoor Opportunities (EcoOp) program. It is a transformative initiative to expand access to nature for low-income and disadvantaged youth in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley/La Presa, and El Cajon. With a $300,000 grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, IPS will offer enriching outdoor experiences that promote health, wellness, and empowerment and support youth substance use prevention and early intervention.
The grant is part of the California Natural Resources Agency’s broader initiative to increase youth access to natural and cultural resources. The funding, totaling nearly $18 million, supports 71 Youth Community Access Program projects across the state. These projects prioritize communities disproportionately affected by past state and federal drug policies, as well as other underserved populations.
The EcoOp program will consist of three, six-month cohorts with the first cohort beginning this month, July 2024. Each cohort provides equitable outdoor experiences for youth aged 13-18, involving them in outings and camping trips that offer a deeper connection to the natural world and local cultural resources. Youth participants will actively decide what activities to engage in utilizing the youth participatory model. The Canadian Mental Health Association states “Meaningful youth participation involves recognizing and nurturing the strengths, interests, and abilities of young people through the provision of real opportunities for youth to become involved in decisions that affect them at individual and systemic levels.”Trips could involve time spent at a local park engaging in recreational activities and learning about the community’s history and cultures. As the youth progresses through the program, they will visit regional and countywide outdoor and cultural resources. Through these activities, participants will gain valuable knowledge about and a stronger connection to their communities and region. Additionally, each youth cohort will meet once a week and participate in programming that will grow their leadership skills and appreciation of other cultures and help them gain a greater sense of health, wellness, and personal empowerment.
IPS seeks mentors aged 18-26 to guide and support the youth participants. These mentors will be crucial in leading excursions and facilitating the “Choose Your Adventure” model, which empowers youth to explore topics that can improve their lives and communities. Mentors with lived experience are highly encouraged to apply.
The Youth Community Access Grant Program is funded by the Proposition 64 cannabis tax. Passed by California voters in 2016, Proposition 64 legalized recreational cannabis use for adults and allocated 60% of cannabis tax revenues to the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention, and Treatment Account. These funds support youth programs designed to educate about and prevent substance use disorders, with an emphasis on early intervention and timely treatment services.
By supporting initiatives like EcoOp, the grant program aims to address the multi-generational impacts of the War on Drugs, which disproportionately affected low-income communities and communities of color. The program seeks to repair the harm caused by harsh drug policies that led to mass incarceration, reduced access to social services, and the separation of families.EcoOp aligns with the broader goals of the Outdoors for All Strategy, which strives to establish spaces where people and nature can thrive together. By cultivating a sense of belonging in the outdoors and building career pathways in recreation and natural resources, the initiative aims to develop an outdoor culture and workforce that reflects California’s rich diversity.
IPS is one of five nonprofits in San Diego County to receive this prestigious grant, joining a statewide effort to create inclusive and equitable outdoor opportunities for all Californians.
For additional information or to get involved, contact Dane Bolding, the IPS Youth Community Access Project Coordinator, at 619-476-9100 x121 or by email at: dbolding@publicstrategies.org.
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IPS works alongside communities to build power, challenge systems of inequity, protect health, and improve quality of life. IPS has a vision for safe, secure, vibrant and healthy communities where everyone can thrive. To learn more about IPS East County, follow us on our social media platforms: IPS East County Facebook, IPS East County X, and East County Youth Coalition Instagram. Our website is at IPSEast.org.For more articles in this column visit: Advancing Healthy Communities | East County Magazine
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