Youth Exploring the Sonoma Coast (Yes-Coast) connects youth to their scenic coastline by providing a year-long series of outdoor excursions. The outings interweaving themes of local history, culture, and ecology during six outings and two camping trips exploring the entire span of the Sonoma Coast.

Many of the participants are experiencing the activities and the coastal parks for the first time. In addition to a nature and conservation focus, the approach integrated the relationships that we have with the ocean. Maritime culture and economy past and present, Kashia traditional practices on the coast, the history of Fort Ross, and young people’s personal connections with the ocean.

For many of the participants, the program was their first opportunity to see the Sonoma Coast, their first time visiting a Sonoma County Regional Park and the first time to use a camera that was not a smart phone.