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Today, far too many communities struggle with environmental issues, including limited access to parks and green spaces, especially in low-income and minority areas due to historical discrimination. This lack of access contributes to health problems as youth spend more time indoors. Racial disparities persist in outdoor spaces globally, stemming from a history of exclusion.
The Outdoor Access for Youth Award of John Muir College at the University of California, San Diego aims to address these challenges by supporting students who empower youth to reconnect with nature and foster human-nature relationships.
This program awards of $1000 for UC San Diego undergraduates who are committed to introducing young people (ages 6-24) from underserved communities to the outdoors and outdoor adventure. Successful award recipients aim to foster and promote the physical, social, cultural, and mental health benefits of spending time in outdoor spaces.
This program awards of $1000 for UC San Diego undergraduates who are committed to introducing young people (ages 6-24) from underserved communities to the outdoors and outdoor adventure. Successful award recipients aim to foster and promote the physical, social, cultural, and mental health benefits of spending time in outdoor spaces.
OAYA is made possible through the generous support of Rob and Suzy Schamberg (UCSD, Class of 1978), who created this award in honor of the late John Stewart, Founding Provost of Muir College. Stewart taught the ENVR 140: Wilderness and Human Values, the longstanding signature course in the Environmental Studies Program.
OAYA is made possible through the generous support of Rob and Suzy Schamberg (UCSD, Class of 1978), who created this award in honor of the late John Stewart, Founding Provost of Muir College. Stewart taught the ENVR 140: Wilderness and Human Values, the longstanding signature course in the Environmental Studies Program.
Rob Schamberg enrolled in Wilderness and Human Values in 1976, and subsequently became a Discussion Leader in 1977 and 1978. He later became an educator, school administrator, and leader who promoted outdoors for all in the schools and communities he served in California and throughout the United States. Rob is the founder and chair of Reno's Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO), a volunteer organization committed to developing leadership skills and social and emotional development to youth through hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, whitewater rafting, and other outdoor adventure trips in Nevada. Rob and his family are grateful to John Stewart for his vocation as an educator and his outdoor avocations which grew out of the Wilderness and Human Values class at UC San Diego.
The Schamberg Family Philanthropy Fund is honoring John Stewart by dedicating this award to him. There is potential for an awarded candidate for mentorship and/or an internship through Reno ICO.
2024 Awardees
2024 Awardees
Caren Aguirre
Caren Aguirre is a Mexican American woman from Imperial Beach, California, who is a passionate advocate for environmental justice. Driven by a deep commitment to improve the environment, she has advocated for clean air, water, and land for Southbay San Diego at the legislative level in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. through the non-profit Azul. Caren is currently a fourth-year student at UC San Diego, studying Environmental Science and Urban Studies and Planning, and plans to further her impact in the field of environmental justice and urban planning under the mentorship of Dr. Mor Shilon. Caren has confronted significant environmental challenges in her community, including polluted river and beach waters, inadequate public transportation, and severe air pollution due to the area's proximity to the US-Mexico international border.
At UC San Diego, Caren's goal has always been to uplift the community, and the Outdoor Access for Youth Award (OAYA) provides a practical avenue for achieving this. Through this scholarship, she will facilitate access to outdoor experiences by way of guided walks and hikes for youth along the Tijuana River Valley in San Ysdrio’s community in order to foster a sense of environmental knowledge and stewardship. San Ysidro is a densely urbanized border town surrounded by three major freeways, creating significant challenges for residents to access outdoor spaces and maintain gardens. As a result, 65% of residents experience food insecurity, leading to limited access to fresh produce or healthy foods.
Caren's project addresses these issues by providing access to outdoor spaces through guided hikes, activities, and the revitalization of four inactive community gardens. Youth will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship by learning about the natural environment, working with the soil, following plant cycles, and understanding food systems, including watersheds. Drawing from her network of environmental leaders at UCSD and in San Diego, Caren will emphasize the communal aspect of gardening, by hosting guest lectures in the garden space on various environmental topics, including career opportunities in outdoor spaces. This initiative will inspire new environmental advocates committed to conservation and sustainability. By fostering a stronger bond between residents and their environment, this project will bring tangible benefits to the South Bay San Diego community, promoting food security and environmental awareness with a vision of lasting impact.
Image: Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors
In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.
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