TRIP ITINERARY
Service by the Bay:
Spring Break Service in San Francisco, Living, Learning, and Lending a hand!

Day 01 - Saturday
Arrive between 2:00pm and 5:00pm at San Francisco International Airport.

Students will be greeted by a Rustic Pathways staff member and taken to their home base for the next week.  There will be a welcoming orientation detailing the week’s events and a group dinner.  We have an early night to bed as we begin our week of service.  Come prepared for an intimate look into the serious problem of poverty and homelessness and how people are engaging to change it.

Day 02 - Sunday
Service and Study
Today you will arrive at Alameda Point Collaborative (APC), a non-profit organization that provides housing and services to over 200 previously homeless families with over 250 children living there.  You will be given a tour of the facilities and begin your day of service at APC.  Throughout the week you can expect to spend time building, cooking and cleaning.  In addition, you will be working with children and going on field trips around the Bay Area with APC residents when they are available.  We ask that you keep an open mind and a willingness to learn about the roots of poverty and the issues that challenge the solutions.

In the evening, we will debrief from the day’s events.  At night we will visit the famous North Beach of San Francisco.  The opportunity to visit Coit Tower and walk around the area better known as “Little Italy” will make you want to stay in San Francisco forever.

Days 03 to 05 – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Work Hard, Play Hard
For the next four days you will continue to provide services at Alameda Point Collaborative while having the opportunity to talk with residents, case workers, school officials and the larger community about the issues surrounding homelessness.  You will work both directly and indirectly with previously homeless residents during your Servicio comunitario. 

You will spend time meeting and working with the Growing Youth Council, an inspiring group of teenagers who are motivated to help their community by raising awareness of ways to access healthier foods.  This will be an eye-opening opportunity to learn about the myriad layers of concerns that impoverished people struggle to overcome. 

As you uncover some of these topics you will visit the beautiful UC Berkeley Campus.  Here we will have a more formal debriefing about the issues surrounding poverty and homelessness and talk about our experiences with poverty and potential solutions.  This is your opportunity to bring your week’s experience to the table for further discussion and raise questions that concern you.

During the evenings we will visit Alcatraz, the Exploratorium and the gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge.  On Thursday evening, you can choose from several optional activities: see a performance or sports game, walk down the “crookedest street in the world” (Lombard street), have dinner in the hip Mission district, slide down the secret slides of San Francisco, or visit a street fair.  You will explore the city’s gems that only a local can show you how to find!  

Day 06 - Friday
San Francisco Style and Smiles!
The morning will be spent visiting the beautiful Seven Lovely Sisters Houses in Alamo Square Park made famous by the show Full House.  Taking a short walk across the street we will visit the famous Haight/Ashbury neighborhood and where the civil rights movement began.  We will stop to get a bite to eat at hippie hill before we head back to APC. We begin our service in the late afternoon, so our night is free to spend with the APC children who rarely have the opportunity to explore places outside their neighborhood.  We will have an exciting night out as we adventure out with the kids.  Get ready to act like a kid again these kids’ enthusiasm is easily contagious.

Day 07 – Saturday
A Final Goodbye to the City by the Bay!
We ask that you book your flight home between 8:00 am and 11:00am.

An important note about this trip is that students need to come prepared to work long days and be willing to see and help a population of the United States that is rarely addressed by teenagers.  However, there is plenty of recreation built into this trip. This program is popular with students who are looking for a real life-changing experience. Up to thirty-five hours of Servicio comunitario hours are awarded for this trip.  Please be prepared to step outside your natural comfort zone while you explore these complicated issues of poverty and homelessness.

Reflection and personal exploration is critical to getting the most out of this service.  This program is designed for those who want an intimate look at a beautiful and enticing place in a manner available to very few visitors while simultaneously engaging in positive change.    

You will be traveling to San Francisco during the spring, when the days are generally cool with a mixture of sun and light rain. The evenings can be quite cold but days often warm up into the high 60s.  Dressing in layers is the most effective way to prepare for San Francisco.
                                                                                                                      
We ask that you pack as lightly as you can. You will be expected to carry your bags and gear yourself. Please bring a small backpack/daypack that you can use for day excursions.  We suggest no bag larger than “30”.

Suggested Packing List
Carry-On Luggage:

**Please wear your Rustic Pathways T-shirt on the plane ride to San Francisco.  This will make our connection much easier!

Please use a small backpack/daypack. This will be used throughout the trip on excursions.
Tickets
Identification card/license and Wallet
Sunglasses
Toothbrush and toothpaste (2oz. or less)
Camera, disposable camera and/or film
Journals and Pens
Music, books etc.
Ear plugs

Checked Luggage:
Nice cotton collared shirt (1)
Light weight pants or jeans (2) 
T-Shirts (4)                         
Long-sleeve t-shirts (2)
Shorts (2 pairs) please no “short” shorts.
Heavy sweatshirt (1)
Medium weight jacket (1)
Underwear
Socks                                                        
Sneakers (1 pair)
Tevas, sandals or flip flops (1 pair)
Cap or sun hat
Light weight raincoat or poncho
Towel (1 beach)
Laundry bag for dirty laundry
Flashlight or headlamp
Spare batteries
Water bottle
Durable work gloves
Toiletries – Please note that we strongly encourage all students to use only biodegradable soap.
Biodegradable soap
Biodegradable shampoo
Toothbrush
Biodegradable toothpaste
Sunscreen
Waterless hand sanitizer
Personal first aid kit
Any medications
Contact lens and fluid or other items as necessary
Items to donate to APC
Pictures of family and friends to share with you new friends in Fiji (optional)
Musical instrument – (optional)
Energy bars, vitamins and other snacks (optional)
Books, playing cards, games (optional)
** please note that all linens and bedding ARE PROVIDED but you are allowed to bring a sleeping bag if you wish.

Please Note:

We expect students to wear appropriate attire when involved in their service projects. T-shirts and jeans are acceptable, but we ask that students do not wear revealing clothing or clothing that has inappropriate messages on it.  We discourage students wearing jewelry or bringing their favorite clothes.  Please expect to get dirty while doing service.

Rustic Pathways is also seeking to directly help the communities we serve with donations of items that are too expensive or in high demand.  The donation lists has been created by the staff at Alameda Point Collaborative.  We would like to encourage all students who participate in this program to bring with them some of the items on the donation list.  These items will be donated at the site.

It is important to bring a water bottle with you so that you keep yourself well hydrated while exploring and working in San Francisco.

1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will stay in a 5 bedroom house near Ocean Beach in San Francisco.  Rustic Pathways has exclusive use of the home.  Rooms accommodate 2 to 3 people and males and females will be in separate rooms. We provide all linens for beds but you are welcome to bring a sleeping bag.  The house has 3 showers, flush toilets, laundry, internet, kitchen and a back yard.  The house is situated between the Ocean Beach near Golden Gate Park.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water? 
San Francisco water is safe for drinking

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?

Students will be expected to help prepare meals.  Students will eat a combination of dishes. Breakfasts typically include cereal, breads, crackers and fruit. Lunches will often be packed with sandwiches, fruit and salad.  Dinners range from dinning out at restaurants to home cooked pastas, curries, salads vegetables, soups and meat.

4 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?

On average, our programs on Rustic Pathways are 60% female and 40% male.

5 - How does this program connect to other programs?

This program only runs during spring break.  You can connect to another spring break program if you have a two week spring break.

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?

No.  Students and parents are responsible for arranging their own airfare to San Francisco.  Students must arrive at SFO between 14:00 and 17:00.  Students must depart between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM.  There will be a Rustic Pathways staff member at the Airport to greet them when they arrive and to make sure they check-in properly for departure.

7 - How long is the drive from SFO to the accommodations?

About 45 minutes by car.

8 - Do we need to get visas for this program?

You do not need a visa unless you live outside of the United States.  If you live out of the USA please contact the United States embassy in your country and follow their guidelines for entry.

9 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?

All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We suggest Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccinations and recommend that you consult a doctor regarding immunizations for travel to the region. You can find additional information on immunizations for travel from the US Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?

The only items not included in this trip are optional activities, souvenirs, snacks, drinks, use of the internet and small donations that students may opt to contribute as part of their service projects.
 
11 – What is the recommended allowance for this program?
 
The amount of allowance is dependent on your child’s spending habits and choice of optional activities.  Below is a list of optional activities.  We recommend at least $200.00 USD per week or more if wanting to participate in an optional activity.  All activities and prices are subject to change.  Please fill out Part 4 of the waver CAREFULLY to ensure your child can participate in the activity of his or her choice.

These prices are subject to change
Sailing in San Francisco - $100.00
Performance - $100.00
Phone Card - $11.00
Internet - $3.00 per ½ hour
Laundry - $5.00
Snacks – dependent on student’s purchase
Souvenirs – dependent on student’s purchase

Note – You can transfer money into your son’s or daughter’s allowance while they are on the program but you will incur added fees.  Please overestimate your child’s needs so you do not have to face the hassle of wiring money to Ohio.  Students spending habits will be overseen by staff.