Match Activity Ideas in the Community

In Your Community (Field Trips)

Field trips are a great way for mentors and mentees to explore the resources in our communities while having a great time! Below you will find a list of field trip suggestions, both for individual matches and for a large group of matches, as well as any forms that you might need to fill out before you go on your adventure.

Individual Field Trips

  • Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo
    Ano Nuevo is the largest breeding colony for Elephant Seals. Because the colony is easily accessible via a short hike over the sand dunes, visitors are treated to an extraordinary opportunity to see the breeding colony up close. Tours are guided by volunteer naturalists, who explain the goings-on and keep the elephant seals and humans safe from each other.
  • Pumpkin Patch
    Have fun outdoors taking a tour of the farm, digging for potatoes, tasting fresh made cheese, and picking your own pumpkin.
  • San Francisco Zoo
    Spend time outside with your match exploring the fascinating world of different animals and their habitats at the zoo.
  • Swimming
    Cool off in the water and spend time building your endurance at the pool.
  • Visit a College Campus
    Explore the diverse post secondary educational opportunities the Bay has to offer.
  • Visit the Cartoon Art Museum
    The Cartoon Art Museum is the only museum in the western United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms. This unique institution houses approximately 6,000 original pieces in its permanent collection.
  • See a Broadway Classic
    Go with your mentee to see a play and cultivate an appreciation for the theatre.
  • Precita Eyes Mural Walk
    Take a walking tour through the Mission and see the amazing art in our community.

Group Field Trips

  • Angel Island
    Explore the outdoors with your mentoring group! San Francisco Police Department leads ten backpacking trips on Angel Island throughout the year. On these backpacking trips, mentors and mentees get a chance to challenge themselves, develop their leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, and have fun in nature!
  • Pacific Leadership Institute
    Pacific Leadership Institute offers a number of Challenge Courses (or ropes courses) throughout the year. Challenge Courses are a progression of low team-based elements and high challenge elements built in the trees using cables, ladders and ropes. Foster a community spirit within your mentoring group by going to the Challenge Course together!
  • Trips for Kids
    Trips For Kids (TFK) Marin takes at-risk kids on scenic day-long mountain biking adventures in gorgeous Marin County where they learn bike skills, self-confidence, and environmental awareness. Most of all, TFK rides provide an unstructured opportunity for youth to have fun!

Supporting Documents

  • For Individuals
     
    • Field Trip Permission Form
      Be sure to get your match’s permission slip signed by their guardian before you take a trip!
    • Volunteer Drivers Form
      We strongly encourage people to take public transit. However, if you are going to drive to your field trip destination, make sure to fill out this form and give it to your Mentor Coordinator beforehand.
  • For Mentor Coordinators
     
    • Booking an SFUSD School Bus
      SFUSD buses may be reserved for a fee for field trips between the hours of 9:45am and 1:30pm in San Francisco. Groups may use busses for short field trips

This page was last updated on April 21, 2023