About Miami Inner City Outings

Established in 1988 Miami Inner City Outings (ICO) is an outreach arm of the Sierra Club whose mission is to expose youth from inner city and underserved populations in and around Miami to the wonders of the natural environment. It is one of fifty-one such programs nationwide.

The core concept of ICO is to show our children another aspect of the world we all share. We run 25 - 30 trips a year which are fully staffed and organized by dedicated volunteers, including volunteer "certified leaders" who are certified in basic First Aid and CPR.

Our destinations are usually within a few hours drive from Miami. Most of these are day trips that include hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling. We also conduct overnight camping trips on weekends during the cooler months.

ICO works to promote awareness of and interest in conservation and preservation efforts in Miami-Dade County. Each year we conduct a number of service outings ranging from tree plantings to beach or river cleanups.

Program Description

The children who participate in the ICO program range in age from 8-18. In addition to the outdoor "fun" activities, we engage these youngsters in orienteering or canoeing workshops and involved them in multiple annual service projects. As these youth have acquired new skills, we have seen a corresponding increase in self-confidence, and some have even taught their newfound skills to others. Working with others to protect and preserve our natural resources has sparked a respect for the natural environment and an appreciation for teamwork.

In 2008, Miami ICO has trips planned to Everglades National Park, Biscayne Nature Center, Indian Key, Virginia Key Beach Park, Butterfly World, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, and Koreshan State Historic Site to name just a few. All trips are free of charge to participants and volunteers. See our calendar of outings for more details.

ICO Agencies: ICO currently does outings with the following agencies: Urgent, Inc. - Rites of Passage, 100 Black Men of South Florida, Family Of Humanity, and Oakland Grove Neighborhood Association.

ICO Leaders: ICO leaders are experienced, trained Sierra Club volunteers. Leaders are selected based on demonstrated leadership abilities and are all required to undergo screening and background checks before working directly with youth. They are certified in first aid and CPR and receive additional training through workshops and seminars in group leadership, team building and wilderness skills.

Most ICO leaders and volunteers are professionals between the ages of 20 and 45, who enjoy, working with youth, have an adventurous spirit, and enjoy kicking back and watching for wildlife or a sunset. Volunteers can participate in the ICO program in many ways. Obviously the most enjoyable is to assist with the outings and mentor the children. However we also need volunteers who may be able to help with the administrative tasks, like fundraising, publicity or teaching environmental education to both the adult volunteers and children.

The vital role played by volunteers cannot be overemphasized. Miami ICO has no paid staff. Funds are used exclusively for transportation, food, equipment, insurance, leader training and minor administrative costs. All funding for our activities are through donations or other fundraising activities of our volunteers that include specified fund raising outings, sale of Sierra Club T-shirts and other merchandise and garage sales.

Inner City Outings is always interested in working with groups or organizations that serve kids in and around Miami. Our emphasis is on the inner city neighborhoods where such opportunity as we offer is not usually evident. We welcome volunteers and donations to support our programs. E-mail Meredith Beattie mbeattie at gmail.com or Mark Walters at mark at icomiami.org

Join Us!

Do you love children? How about camping, canoeing, hiking and biking? If you are a kid enthusiast and an outdoor lover, come check out Inner City Outings. We are a volunteer organization committed to introducing underprivileged children to all the nature spots Florida has to offer. Field trips are free to volunteers. Join us for one of our monthly meetings. They are held the 4th Thursday of the month in downtown Miami, email mark at icomiami.org for more information or directions.