Inner City Outings

Our Mission: Sierra Club Inner City Outings is a community outreach program that provides opportunities for urban youth and adults to explore, enjoy, and protect the natural world.

Our Program

The Sierra Club has 50 volunteer-run ICO groups spread throughout the United States. Every year, these groups conduct more than 800 outings that serve approximately 14,000 youth, helping these participants learn how to enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly.

Through these outings, ICO promotes interpersonal skills and self-esteem by involving participants in teamwork, teaching them self-reliance outside an urban setting, and encouraging them to take an active role in protecting the environment. As its participants discover the beauty of wild lands, ICO also helps the Club build support for environmental protection in urban communities across the country.

News

2.2.12

The Inner City Outings Kids Are Alright

"This trail is so … naturey. There's so much going on all around us!" says a middle schooler. "This is the most fun day I've ever had outside," says another. "When I grow up I'm going to make a fores...

Goals

Promote appreciation and protection of the natural environment through wilderness adventures and environmental education.

Create opportunities for personal development by linking participants from different cultures, foster respect of self and others, and provide participants with outdoor skills training and leadership opportunities.

See where we're working

ICO Report

Read more about ICO in our annual and quarterly reports. Check out the current issue: