There is something special about seeing big yellow school buses pull into the Coelho Ranch early in the morning each week.
As the buses rolled into the ranch on Arroyo Seco, the morning air was still crisp, the sun was just beginning to peek over the mountains, and the quiet of the ranch quickly turned into the sound of excitement, chatter, and kids ready for a day outside.
Today, we had the privilege of welcoming youth from First Tee to Coelho Ranch, and it was a powerful reminder of why access matters.
For many children coming from communities like King City, Soledad, Greenfield, and surrounding areas, opportunities to explore open land, walk trails, taste food straight from the vine, and learn through hands-on experiences are not always easy to access. But when they are given that opportunity, something beautiful happens.
Kids from King City piled off the buses with energy and curiosity. They were ready to hike, explore, ask questions, and simply enjoy being kids in a wide-open space. The ranch became more than a destination. It became a place of discovery.
One of the most memorable parts of the morning was walking through the grape tunnel. The children were able to see the grapevines growing overhead, learn about the different types of grapes, and taste grapes straight from the vine. For some, it was a new experience. For others, it was a chance to connect what they have seen in stores or at home with how food actually grows.
There was something simple and powerful about watching them reach up, pull grapes from the vine, taste them, and look around at the vines surrounding them. It was fun, educational, and memorable all at once.
From there, the kids split into groups and took to the trails. They hiked, explored the ranch, learned about ducks and animals, spent time outdoors, and experienced what teamwork looks like outside of a classroom. They had space to move, space to ask questions, and space to connect with one another in a different way.
That is the kind of experience Coelho Ranch was created to provide.
Our partnership with First Tee continues to show what is possible when organizations come together around youth, access, learning, and community. First Tee already does incredible work helping young people build confidence, character, and life skills. Being able to add the ranch as a place where those lessons can come to life in nature is something we are deeply grateful for.
Today was more than a field trip.
It was a reminder that exposure matters. Access matters. Nature matters. Food literacy matters. And giving children the chance to experience something new can leave an impact far beyond a single morning.
We could not be happier to welcome First Tee to Coelho Ranch and look forward to many more mornings filled with buses, laughter, learning, and the kind of joyful noise that reminds us why this work matters.
