CALIFORNIA'S CHANGING COAST 2022
SUMMER CAMP:
CALIFORNIA'S CHANGING COAST BIKE TOUR
The California Field School bike tours connect young people with the world around them, supporting them as they realize the strength that comes from traveling by one's own power through the landscape.
This summer, we are offering two 6 day bike touring trips exploring 150 miles of awe-inspiring Northern California Coast. Traveling along one of the most iconic bike routes in the United States, you will breathe in the fresh ocean air as your eyes take in the simultaneously majestic and intimate landscape around you.
During your journey, you will learn about the communities and environmental factors that have shaped the coast as it is experienced today, as well as the current efforts to resist environmental destruction, build sustainable alternatives, and rebuild cultural heritage.
CALIFORNIA'S CHANGING COAST 2020
TRIP DETAILS
Day 1 Travel - We’ll meet in Oakland for a 3-hour drive to Pt. Arena. Our trip begins on Bokeyo Pomo land, and our home for the first two nights of the trip is OZ Farm, an organic off-grid farm that hosts environmental education workshops and classes.
Day 2 Orientation - This day is an opportunity to get to know each other and create agreements for how we’ll travel together. Each participant will be asked to identify personal goals for the journey. Over the course of the trip, we will take time to reflect on these goals and offer support along the way.
Day 3 Pt. Arena to Salt Point State Park - A classic day of California riding, we’ll pass through small towns and idyllic fishing villages on our way to one of the most biodiverse sections of coastline in California.
Day 4 Salt Point State Park to Bodega Dunes - We’ll continue cruising down the coast with a stop at Fort Ross to learn about the Russian settlers who created a chain of forts down the Pacific Coast to exploit the sea otters who frolicked in the coves.
Day 5 Bodega Dunes to Samuel P. Taylor - Our last night of camping is among the last remnants of a once mighty redwood forest. As we enter the outskirts of the SF Bay Area, we’ll talk about how urban expansion is threatening the wild places that remain and what people are doing to preserve them.
Day 6 Over the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco - We’ll finish our trip with a ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco. Once we reach Jack London Square in Oakland, we will kick back for a well-deserved celebration of our epic journey.
TRAVEL BY BICYCLE
We move at a more human pace, navigating the world as deeply engaged travelers. We become acutely aware of subtle and drastic shifts in our environment, from the grade and texture of our paths to the sounds and smells that fill the air around us.
TRAVEL IN
COMMUNITY
We explore together some of the deep questions that face us now - how do we, as individuals, become part of the solution for a more environmentally and socially just world? How do we come together across differences like race, class, ability, and gender to create a world where power is equitably shared?
TRAVEL
INDIGENOUS LAND
We recognize the ways that colonization has impacted native people and how people have shaped the landscape of California. We identify the impacts of different ways of understanding our relationship to the earth on the world that we live in today.
TRAVEL THE COAST
We trace the boundary between land and sea and contemplate how to cultivate balance in our own lives.
2020
CALIFORNIA'S CHANGING COAST
BIKE TOUR DATES
JUNE 28 - JULY 3, 2020
Tuition: $1,900*
Details: 6-day bike tour
For high school students entering 9th - 12th grade
JULY 12 - JULY 17, 2020
Tuition: $1,900*
Details: 6-day bike tour
For high school students entering 9th - 12th grade
*Early-bird registration tuition. Ends April 1, 2020.
PRICING at the California Field School, we believe that ALL young people deserve access to outdoor adventures. Scholarships covering up to 95% of trip costs are available. On the application, we ask everyone to tell us a little bit about your financial situation and how much you are able to pay for the trip. If your application is accepted, we will let you know how much your tuition charge will be.
The base price of our trip is $2,100 and covers accommodations, vehicles, food, participant materials, leader compensation, and overhead expenses like rent on our office space, insurance, etc. Families can choose to contribute an additional amount above the base price of our trip, which allows us to provide lower-cost tuition for lower-income families and funds our school year programs with students from Oakland Unified Public Schools.
WHAT SETS US APART
Accessibility
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Our support & gear (SAG) vehicles lower the physical barriers for young people who are just exploring the outdoors for the first time.
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We provide high-quality bikes, helmets, and bike clothes for all participants so that everyone can engage in the trip from the same footing (or wheeling!). If you’d like to bring your own bike, please let us know on the application.
Experienced Leaders
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CA Field School leaders are multi-talented educators, trip coordinators, and activists. We don't just take our participants from point A to point B - we explain how those two points are connected to each other and to participant's lives.
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All our leaders are passionate about connecting young people with the incredible story of California and have the skills, resources, and training to help each participant get the most out of the trip.
Small trip sizes and excellent leader ratios
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Our trips are limited to 12 participants to ensure that each participant has the support and resources get the most out of their journey. Our trips are always staffed by 3 experienced leaders, maintaining a minimum 1:4 leader to participant ratio.
Interdependence
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Tuition from this trip directly supports the CA Field School’s ability to provide educational trips for young people with fewer financial resources.
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Tell me more about the rides!Each bike ride will visit a different historical or cultural site in the Bay Area, with an aim of learning about the people and communities who’ve created this incredible place we live. Most rides will be between 15 and 30 miles, with lots of time to rest and talk. Generally, rides will meet at Life Academy at 9 AM on ride days and return by 1 PM, with some exceptions. We’ll provide a bike, helmet, transit fare (when needed), museum entrance fees, and snacks.
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Who can participate?Participants must be young women or gender non-conforming young people currently enrolled in high school (or the equivalent age) for the 2019-2020 school year.
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How much does Freewheel cost?The participant fee is $50-$200 sliding scale (ie, if your family can afford to pay more than $50, please do!) We’re committed to making Freewheel accessible, so if you’re not able to pay the full $50 please apply anyway and we’ll work it out. The participant fee includes the use of a bicycle and helmet for every ride, with the possibility of purchasing the bike for a reduced fee at the end of the program. It also includes the cost of the Spring Break bike tour.
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Do I need to have my own bike?No! We'll provide bikes and helmets to all participants to use for the rides.
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What if I'm scared of biking/not good at riding/not fast?We'll always ride as a group, so no one will get left behind. The rides will be led by experienced bike educators who will provide safety training and guidance to make sure that everyone feels confident and knows how to bike safely and predictably.
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I have a bike I'd like to donate, how do I do that?We're gratefully accepting road and hybrid bikes in good condition. To arrange a drop-off, please email nora@californiafieldschool.org.