About the Project

The Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative (WALC) is an innovative academic environmental education program at two inner-city high schools in San Francisco, serving primarily low-income youth of color who have historically been underserved. WALC addresses students’ critical academic needs while fostering their sense of self and place as active participants in society and the ecological processes of the planet. Through thoughtfully planned field experiences, WALC teaches academic concepts and skills grounded in real connections to the environment. These field studies create transformative, lifelong memories and friendships, enriching students’ understanding of the novels they read, the historical eras they explore, and the lab work they conduct. Integrating wilderness experiences and environmental concepts across subjects equips students to become knowledgeable and responsible citizens.