Inner City Outings

Helping Disadvantaged Children

about inner city outings

Inner City Outings (ICO) has been introducing disadvantaged children to the wilderness for years. Can you imagine the number of children who have never laid eyes on a deer or even a cow?

ICO's mission is to "promote personal development by linking cultures, fostering respect of self and others and providing leadership skills to promote appreciation and protection of our local and global environments through a process of spiritual growth and sharing." The ICO program meets this mission by providing safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences for persons who might not otherwise have them.

In addition to individual trips, ICO also hosts an annual jamboree bringing together children from all over the metroplex. This annual event is held around Earth Day and provides a weekend of environmental games and awareness.

Please contact Liz Wheelan for more information.

ico awarded rei grant

Mike Williams, REI Outreach (l) and Todd Callaway, REI Store Manager (r) attended the September meeting to present Liz Wheelan of our Inner City Outings outreach program with a check representing REI's $5,000 grant toward the group's outings program that takes disadvantaged kids into the outdoors. This generous contribution helped ICO expand it's program this fall to include kids from Sam Houston Elementary School in southwest Dallas. Many, many thanks to the employees of Dallas REI for nominating our ICO for this great gift!

Learn more about REI grants: REI, Sumner, WA 98352, (253)395-5958, http://www.rei.com/reigives