Learn. Play. Steward.
Every VAF program is free to Central Valley families and falls into one of three pillars. Together they build outdoor confidence, community, and a habit of caring for the land.
Skills that make the outdoors feel like home.
Every session is hands-on. Kids leave with dirt on their hands and something they built or grew themselves. Parents leave able to keep it going at home.
- Kids' Garden Club — monthly Saturday sessions on planting, watering, and harvesting
- Backyard Beekeeping — hive basics, safe handling, and why pollinators matter to the Valley
- Camp Cooking Basics — cast iron, fire safety, one-pot meals
- Native Plant Walks — identifying oaks, sages, and pollinator-friendly natives
- Foraging Fundamentals — safe, seasonal, and always with an expert
Guided adventures — designed for the first time out.
You don't need gear. You don't need experience. You just need to show up. VAF guides handle transportation, permits, safety, and everything you'd otherwise have to figure out alone.
- Beginner Family Hikes — 2–4 miles, kid-paced, ranger-led
- Weekend Campouts — tents, sleeping bags, and dinner provided
- River Paddle Days — kayaks and life vests included
- Stargazing Nights — telescope access at low-light-pollution sites
Give back to the places we play.
Every season includes public-lands service days. Because outdoor access is only real if we keep the trails, creeks, and orchards healthy for the next family.
- Creek Clean-Ups — Kings, Kaweah, and San Joaquin tributaries
- Native Tree Plantings — oaks, sycamores, and pollinator hedgerows
- Community Orchard Days — pruning, mulching, and harvest volunteering
- Trail Maintenance — with regional parks and land trust partners