Once a month, youth attend outings throughout Southern California. The outings expose foster youth to diverse cultural and social activities in the city and surrounding communities. Outings are educational and fun for EASE-IN youth and offer them opportunities to enhance their interpersonal skills and build support systems with each other and in their surrounding communities.

Outings promote:

1. Greater understanding of other cultures, fostering respect of self and others;
2. Protection and appreciation of all wildernesses through outdoor exploration, education, sharing and spiritual growth
3. Valuable survival skills for young people and the ability to face challenges outside their urban environments. Interpersonal skills, resiliency, self-esteem, and leadership skills grow as a natural result of teamwork and an active relationship with the outdoors
4. Preparation for living independently after emancipation by exposing the foster youth to opportunities and choices.

Past successes:

1. Annual Black College Expo attendance enhanced identity and self-esteem;
2. A nature hike in the mountains boosted self-efficacy in the youth as they took pride in completing the 4-mile trek;
3. At a downtown homeless mission, the youth worked collectively on tasks such as cutting vegetables, serving food, and busing tables. Youth commented that they would not want to be homeless after witnessing Skid Row;
4. At a Caregiver Appreciation event, the caregivers ended the day by building a support system through continued contact.