By: Ella Chan
Back on November 16, Redwood held their very first Ranger Summit. This event was held for the Ranger community and any future students.
Many other community groups joined the event to make sure everyone is aware that they’re there to help.
Although not all the groups were there in the morning segment, many others accompanied Redwood to share what they have to offer to Redwood students and families.
Down below are the different services offered to anyone in the Redwood community and links to their website. They’re available to serve your needs!
Family Services of Tulare County
Family Services is a non-profit organization here in Visalia, aiming to help individuals heal from violence. Serving for those victim of sexual assault and domestic violence and offering services such as counseling, supportive housing, and in-home parenting programs.
One of the representatives, Breanna Trejo, says, “One of our biggest things, especially with what we deal with is just awareness. It’s so important to have a starting point if something happens in your life, rather than to be looking or think that there’s nobody there to help you.”
Family Services seek to offer opportunities for people to live in safe and happy relationships.
Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias
The Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias is an afterschool care for different communities.
Renée Bris, the area director, says, “What we’re promoting today is our teen program that we have here in Visalia. We have a teen center and we’re actually going to be having a grand opening on December 10th to unveil our new chill zone, which is going to be our really chill teen hangout room.”
The club is a space offering mentorship, community based activities, homework help, and a variety of activities. They aim to create more awareness to recruit new members, and make aware that there are after school programs available.
After school programs are usually aimed towards younger grades, so having this opportunity is a great way to socialize and get any help.
Director of operations, Leticia Bettencourt wants teens to, “Just have a place where they feel like the minute they walk through the threshold of the doors, it’s their home, it’s their place, and it’s somewhere where they can just hang out with friends and make new friends.”
California Health Collaborative – HEAL Project
The statewide non-profit organization California Health Collaborative promotes the wellness of communities. Specifically, the HEAL Project aims as a plan to prevent substance abuse disorders within communities through a youth lead program.
At the summit, the group intends to get the word out for opportunities to make a positive change in communities.
The HEAL project offers youth to get involved and engaged, and take up positions such as ambassadors to represent during different events.
Reedley College is a public community college residing in Reedley California (about 30 minutes away from Visalia).
At the summit, Reedley College had a group of student ambassadors attending so they could inform students about applying and making sure that they are aware of the student resources available if they do intend to attend Reedley College.
At the summit, the students ambassadors offered support and validation regarding entering colleges. They want Redwood students to understand going to college is a nerve-wracking thing, but there are resources available to make the experience less unsure.
Fresno City College was the first community college offered in California, dating all the way back to 1910.
At the event, Fresno City College wanted to show students there are higher education oppurtunities available after high school. They offer many pathway and career oppurtunities, such as nursing.
Family HealthCare Network offers services from medical, dental, to optical, and even beyond healthcare, they have a department dedicated to community resources.
Alfredo Chavez, a representative for Family Healthcare Network says, “A lot of people aren’t aware that you don’t have to go to the county office to get things like Medi-Cal, food stamps, or Covered California.” Health centers such as Family HealthCare provide one-on-one experiences, free of charge, to anyone. “Regardless if you’re a patient or not.”
A Solution goes to different school districts of all grades throughout Tulare County and teaches about substance abuse. They offer services along the lines of prevention services and general education about the effects of substance abuse.
At the event, A Solution wants to spread awareness of their program, and programs like theirs exist to those seeking more information on it. Offices are open outside of school as well, offering more services.
Tulare County District Attorney’s Office – Bureau of Investigations
The Bureau of Investigations work alongside Tulare County attorneys for any investigation information they might need. They also offer services for any victims and witnesses of crimes, and do out reach stuff such as the summit.
At the event, the group wants to shed some education and share any information Redwood community may have. Anything including problems along the lines of human trafficking, online media, and domestic violence.
They intend to open a door for people who are dealing with anything listed above and offer them the help they’ve been needing.
The P.A.L program is a non-profit organization through Visalia police department for the past 10 years, that is an out reach program for the youth in town. Their program offers a non-confrontational environment, aimed towards teens afterschool.
Instead of waiting for their rides home on the streets, they can hang out where the P.A.L program is offered and fill their time in a comfortable environment instead. The program have positive rolemodels such as police officers, and aim to teach success.
These teachings can be through activities like boxing, leadership programs, or general afterschool programs.
Recently, they started a new program called Girl Empowered which teaches girl fitness, and it happens to be lead by one of their P.A.L alumni who is now a boxer, Redwood alumni Jenna Creason, ’24.
The organization is always seeking new members, and they hope that many Redwood students can come along! They’re always open to new feedback on how they can improve and more input from the community.
VUSD Human Resources Department
The human resources department of VUSD focuses on hiring and onboarding for VUSD. They show up to events such as the Ranger Summit to let the Redwood community know that they need their help and support to bring on new teachers and new staff to support students.
At the Summit, VUSD wants both students and adults to be aware that they are able to enter entry level positions with the school district after graduation. They offer positions such as general activities aide. Joining this program allows a pathway into starting up a career as a teacher.
Volunteering and working with children is a great way to start, then later on in college they can apply to be a paraprofessional. Offering opportunities to work along with students creates a headstart into career paths such as teaching, and hopefully later on to recruit said volunteers to a staff within VUSD.
Ablaze is a Catholic club all about giving back to the community through things such as donations. They’ve given towards orphanages by providing items like blankets and other fundings.
They intended to share their hopes of serving the community and hopefully to bring others along the way.
This group spreads awareness about canabis and drinking usage, along with the dangers behind it.
The group hopes to continue to grow their program and eventually head throughout California to offer their informative services.
Epic Escapes is a travel club, offering opportunities to travel to different countries every year.
During spring of ‘26, this upcoming season, the group will be attending a trip to Ireland. By being at the Summit, they seek to find more people to come along.
These travel events are available to all Redwood students.
Redwood offers many athletic opportunities. Many outlets and opportunities are provided and can be sought through the website linked above.
Redwood Interact Club
The Redwood Interact Club focuses on community service, participating in events such as End Polio where they fundraised money to go towards the efforts of ending polio, especially within third world countries.
They also assist with going to other schools and fix up their gardens. Even within Redwood they help out with fundraisers such as food drives.
They’re always open to new members and meet in the library during lunch on Wednesdays.
Redwood Rise Bible Club
As their name suggests, they’re Redwood’s bible club who believe in studying the word of God. Every Thursday during lunch they meet in room 89, Mr. Rojas’ room, and study the bible.
At the event, the group hoped to show the love of God, thank the students and parents for coming out and helping, and bring some Thanksgiving cheer (in relation to the time of the event).
Redwood Robotics Team
The Redwood Robotics Club builds robots together as a team for their competitions called FRC. These competitions begin through the first week of January and last till around May.
Last year, the team competed in Fresno against 37 other robots and won the Rookie Inspiration Award.
At the summit, they intend to recruit more members and reach out to other people to make their presence known.
The Targeted Interventions Mentorship Education, better known as T.I.M.E, works with kids who are primarily impacted by gangs and exposes them to new experiences. They are also in the process of obtaining their non-profit status.
Members have been on trips on planes, taken them up to Woodlake, and hope to help more teens experience trips like this. A lot more activities, such as community service is offered as well.
The groups hoped to make more connections and meet more people through the summit.
Isabella Chan
Isabella (Ella) Chan ('26) is a second year arts and entertainment journalist for the Redwood Gigantea. You can reach out to her by emailing at isabe.ch5254@vusd.us
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, ranger summit, rangers, Redwood, redwood clubs, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood summit, rhs, rhs clubs, visalia ca
