VISTAS: Voyagers Investigating Sierras, Trails, and Seas is an expansion of the Youth Parkway Ambassadors (YPA) program designed to further students knowledge of the San Joaquin River ecosystem from the Sierras to the Sea. VISTAS gives students the opportunity to expand their outdoor and leadership skills while exploring outside of the Central Valley and into the Sierras and the Sea that the San Joaquin River reaches. spending a night camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains near the San Joaquin River as well as a night camping near the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
In the 2024-2025 school year, the River Parkway Trust will be hosting cohorts of student participants from:
- Farber Educational Campus - FUSD (Fall 2024)
- Matilda Torres High School -MUSD (Spring 2025)
The Youth Parkway Ambassadors program gives students the opportunity to develop outdoor and leadership skills at properties along the Parkway. Each cohort then develops their leadership abilities and gains real-world experience planning and leading two free public open house days at the Parkway property of their choice. At open house days, students will teach the activities and skills they’ve practiced to the community with the support of the Trust’s resources and staff.
Program Overview for Fall 2024 Cohort
10 participants per school
September - December 2024
3 Month program, consisting of:
- 2 hour introductory orientation and discussion an each school- Three 6-hour outdoor training days- Four 2-hour planning sessions- Two 4-hour Open House events (7-hour program days for participants)
-An Overnight (1 night, 2 day) campout at Millerton Lake
Program consists of 60 hours total; participants must commit to attending at least 3/4 of total program time
(45 hours)
Capstone Project Art Exhibit
October 18th, 2025 10am-2pm
Location: River Center Ranch House (11605 N Friant Rd, Friant, CA)
At the capstone project art exhibit, students will present their art that reflects their experience during the VISTAS program. Family art station and activities will be available.
Meet Our Parkway Ambassadors
Read stories from our past cohorts and see their impact on the San Joaquin River Parkway.
Funding provided by the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) for the Youth Community Access Grant Program, Parks California, and the Dyer Family Foundation
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