The Tampa Bay Group ICO is an outreach arm of the Sierra Club whose mission is to expose youth from inner city and underserved populations in and around Tampa Bay to the wonders of the natural environment. It is one of more than 50 such programs nationwide.

 

The core concept of ICO is to show our children another aspect of the world we all share. We run 20-25 trips a year which are fully staffed and organized by dedicated volunteers, including volunteer "certified leaders" who are certified in basic First Aid and CPR. Our destinations are usually within an hour from the host location. Most of these are day trips that include hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and service projects. We also conduct overnight camping trips on weekends during the year. 

 

ICO works to promote awareness of and interest in conservation and preservation efforts in the Tampa Bay area. Our ICO is focused on providing the outdoor experience to inner-city youths who may not otherwise have the chance to learn about the outdoors. Some have never used a map, or been to a museum, seen animals in the wild, been taught to fish, or even know that a river runs through the middle of Tampa. And the kids learn, not just about the environment, but about themselves. You can see the friendship bonds build, or their eyes open wide when discover they are standing just yards away from a wild animal. The volunteering is as much an eye-opener for the adults as it is for the children. You never know what you're going to find.

 

 

Academy Prep Center of Tampa is a private, fifth through eighth grade middle school educational program designed specifically to give children of low-income families an outstanding educational opportunity and the greatest chance for success.

 

Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg is affiliated with the Tampa center with the same mission.

 

 

 

Help get ICO kids reading! Our group is creating a "Little Free Library" for our amazing Academy Prep Tampa partner. We are repurposing old tbt boxes that we hope to fill with nature related and young adult books. If you have books to donate, please contact volunteer Karen Kress at Kress_Loy@hotmail.com or 813-758-5901.