Day 1 :
Embark on your Service-Learning Trip to San Diego
- Departure from Home Airport:
Relax and enjoy your scheduled flight.
- Upon Arrival:
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure. You’ll also have a private coach and driver while touring for the next six days.
- City in Brief:
The second-largest city in California, San Diego is located on the Pacific coast, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. With beautiful weather, pristine beaches, friendly people, and a plethora of entertainment, this great city offers a huge variety of attractions.
- Room and Board:
Your base for the next six nights will be in the San Diego area, in dorm-style accommodations* where breakfast will be provided. *Hotel accommodations can be substituted upon request.
- Welcome and Orientation Session: :
This afternoon, your group will have an orientation session with your Tour Leader, who will cover the health and safety aspects of the program as well as explain plans for the week ahead.
- Group Dinner:
Enjoy dinner together.
- Daily Reflection and Group Discussion:
"We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience." - John Dewey
On every evening of the program, we’ll set time aside to update your Reflection Journal and share thoughts and impressions that have come up during the day.
Day 2 :
Community Cornerstone: Community Infrastructure & Enrichment
- Project Orientation:
Start the morning with a brief orientation session, where your group will discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn from the day to your daily life upon returning home. Note: Service activities can be developed based on group needs and requests.
- Housing and History:
Many cities have issues regarding affordable housing and homelessness, and natural disasters have only made the issue worse. These issues persist in different neighborhoods throughout San Diego. Working on housing and homelessness is not only a great way to help the city rebuild but also an important way to learn about its history. Projects may include:
• Home rebuilding and construction
• Vacant lot clearing
• Assisting local homeless shelters
- Lunch:
Lunch will be provided at the project site.
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park:
Considered the "birthplace" of California, visitors can witness the living legacy in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Its many preserved historic buildings and museums allow you to "go back in time" and experience California's history firsthand.
- Group Dinner and Reflection:
This evening, enjoy dinner as a group followed by some time to reflect on and discuss the day's activities.
- Stargazing:
After dinner, you’ll go on a night sky stargazing tour.
Day 3 :
Community Cornerstone: Community Infrastructure and Enrichment
- Project Orientation:
Begin the day with a brief orientation to discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn today back home.
- Neighborhood Revitalization:
A city is made up of many vibrant and unique neighborhoods, each with its own history, culture, highlights, and challenges. Neighborhood revitalization emphasizes residents’ quality of life, specifically in low-income areas. This approach is a great way to support San Diego while learning what makes the city special—its people and neighborhoods. Projects may include:
• Neighborhood and park beautification projects (murals, plantings, etc.)
• Park clean-up and planting
• Blighted property and lot clean-up
• Community center support
• Neighborhood canvassing and surveying
• Storm drain clearing
- Lunch:
Lunch will be provided at the project site.
- Whale Watching Excursion:
This afternoon, you’ll take a harbor cruise to go whale watching.
- Group Dinner:
Enjoy dinner together.
- Evening Reflection and Group Discussion:
Your group will be joined by a local educational speaker to discuss the importance of your service work and how it’s benefiting the area. Afterward, there will be time for discussion and reflection.
Day 4 :
Community Cornerstone: Conservation and the Environment
- Project Orientation:
Start the morning with a brief orientation, where you’ll discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how we can apply what we learn to daily life upon returning home.
- Environmental Sustainability:
Environmental sustainability is one of the greatest challenges facing the country today. From rising sea levels to sinking wetlands and bayous to natural disasters, the future is dependent upon responding and adapting to climate change. Environmental sustainability projects not only have an immense impact on the community but also provide great educational opportunities for the volunteers. Projects may include:
• Working in public green spaces and urban gardens/farms
• Ecosystem restoration
• Conservation and disaster management projects
• Planting trees and rain gardens in flood-prone areas
- Lunch:
Lunch will be provided at the project site.
- Free Time at the Beach:
Spend an afternoon at one of the area’s many beaches.
- Group Dinner:
Enjoy dinner as a group.
- Evening Activity and Group Discussion:
This evening, you’ll view a documentary relating to San Diego and the importance of our service work. Afterward, there will be time for discussion and reflection.
Day 5 :
Community Cornerstone: Education and Literacy
- Project Orientation:
Begin the day with a brief orientation to discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn back home.
- Education Service Activity:
Education is the key component to the sustainability, long-term growth, and prosperity of a city. From elementary school to high school, a community can only go as far as the quality of its education system. Unfortunately, work is needed at many schools across the country. Education-related volunteer projects not only provide short- and long-term benefits to the communities served but they also highlight the challenges and benefits of the education system. Projects may include:
• School and playground beautification
• Classroom and library organization
• Painting classrooms
• Technology support
- Lunch:
Lunch will be provided at the project site.
- USS Midway:
Visit the USS Midway, which is an aircraft carrier that served the United States from 1945-1992. Once aboard the ship, you can explore the sleeping quarters, engine room, galley, brig, officer’s quarters, and primary flight control.
- Group Dinner and Reflection:
Enjoy dinner together. There will also be some time to reflect on the day's activities and discuss what you’ve learned from your service activity.
Day 6 :
Community Cornerstone: Education and Literacy
- Project Orientation:
Start the morning with a brief orientation to discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn from today upon returning home.
- Arts & Culture Service Activity:
The arts have a tremendous ability to change individuals and groups in positive ways—investment in this area can improve the local economy and increase residents’ quality of life. Volunteer art projects can help cultivate community by communicating the area’s history and bridging the gap between different cultures. Projects may include:
• Mural painting
• Museum or community art center support
• Cemetery clean-up
• Working at a local art or music festival
- Lunch:
Lunch will be provided at the project site.
- Balboa Park:
Spend time exploring San Diego's Balboa Park, which contains several museums and gardens
- Group Dinner:
Enjoy dinner as a group.
- Final Reflection and Discussion Session:
This evening, you’ll make the final entries in your Reflection Journal and share some of the most significant observations and perspectives that have taken shape throughout your Service-Learning week in California. We’ll also discuss how these experiences may be most relevant for us all as we return home.
Day 7 :
Departure from San Diego
- Depart for Home:
Your rewarding and enjoyable Service-Learning in San Diego program comes to an end as your Tour Director accompanies your group to the airport on your final day.
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