No-Cost Camping Gear Helps SOCES Students Camp Outdoors

This spring, a parent from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (SOCES), a Title 1 public school in Reseda, California, reached out to us with a clear request:

“Create opportunities for Title 1 students to explore the outdoors and participate in environmental care programs.”

Eager and equipped for adventure, a happy 5th grader holds his camping gear, ready to embark on an exciting outdoor journey.

That parent, Lisa Davis, was helping organize an overnight field trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo for her daughter’s fifth-grade class: 150 students in total. While this type of trip had once been a long-standing tradition for SOCES fifth graders, recent district budget cuts and a shortage of available teachers meant the school was no longer able to coordinate or fund it. Although the district eventually gave its approval, planning and fundraising fell entirely on the shoulders of the parent community.

Throughout the year, SOCES families worked together to make the trip possible. They raised funds to cover admission, bus transportation, and meals so that all students could attend without hardship. Some parents contributed extra to help cover the cost for others. In the end, 114 students and 10 chaperones were able to participate in this meaningful overnight experience.

The final barrier was gear. Many of the students had never been camping before and didn’t have the equipment needed for an overnight stay.

SOCES was referred to us by REI’s Community Gear program, and while REI couldn’t fulfill

SOCES 5th graders settling in for a memorable night under the Santa Barbara Sky.

the request directly, they connected the school with Healthy Footprints Adventure Community, and we were glad they did.

Through our Gear Library, we loaned out 25 high-quality sleeping bags to students who needed them. Thanks to generous donations from NEMO, Columbia, and Therm-a-Rest, students were able to sleep comfortably on large tarps under the stars; many for the very first time.

As Lisa Davis shared:

“We feel very grateful to Healthy Footprint Adventures for providing the sleeping bags that helped keep our students safe and warm through a rather chilly evening at the Zoo! Thank you all again for supporting our kids for this outdoor learning experience!”

We were proud to support this experience in a small but meaningful way, helping ensure all students could fully participate in this hands-on outdoor learning opportunity.

Thank you to REI for the referral, to our gear partners for their continued generosity, to every individual and partnership who helps keep our Gear Library ready to serve, and to the dedicated SOCES parents whose persistence and collaboration made this trip possible.

We’re committed to showing up when we’re needed, and we’re actively growing our impact through continued support from our community.

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💚 Want to help more students access the outdoors? Donate or volunteer today.

Our Gear Library located in Azusa depends on volunteers to clean, organize, and prep equipment for youth programs. If you're interested in helping, email us at hfadventurecommunity@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Real impact takes real support. Donations of $25, $50, or more help us maintain and expand our gear inventory so more students can experience the outdoors safely and fully prepared.

If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation to help more youth explore, learn, and connect with nature, please contact us or donate here.