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.
Participants: The children who participate in the ICO program range in age from 8-
18. In addition to the outdoor "fun" activities, these youngsters enjoy orienteering or canoeing workshops and multiple annual service projects. As they acquire new skills, they also acquire self-confidence. 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.
Outings: We run 25 - 30 trips a year which are fully staffed and organized by dedicated volunteers, including volunteer trained leaders. 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 also 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.
We currently plan trips to Everglades National Park, Biscayne Nature Center, Indian Key, Virginia Key Beach Park, Bill Baggs State Park, Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, Oleta River State Park, and Koreshan State Historic Site to name just a few. All trips are free of charge to participants and volunteers. See our events calendar for more details
Volunteers: Volunteers are professionals and students who enjoy working with youth, have an adventurous spirit, and like 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 can help with the administrative tasks like fundraising, publicity or teaching environmental education to both the adult volunteers and children. To join our volunteers, click on documents for a volunteer application.
 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.
The vital role played by these 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 is through donations and volunteer-led fundraising activities that include fund raising outings, sale of Sierra Club T-shirts and merchandise and garage sales.
Partner Agencies: ICO currently provides outings to children from the following agencies: Urgent, Inc. Rites of Passage, 100 Black Men of South Florida, Family Of Humanity, Hosa nna Community Foundation and the Non-Violence Project.
Inner City Outings is always interested in working with groups or organizations that serve youth in and around Miami. Our emphasis is on the inner city and underserved neighborhoods where there are few opportunities for children to explore the outdoors. We welcome volunteers and donations to support our programs. Interested? E-mail Meredith Beattie or Mark Walters
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