The transition to zero-emission vehicles is made possible by SDG&E and Citizens Energy
Our mission at Outdoor Outreach is to connect youth to the transformative power of the outdoors, and one of the biggest barriers to accessing outdoor spaces for local youth is transportation. This year, with help from San Diego Gas & Electric and Citizens Energy Corporation, we’ve chosen to go with electric vans and a charging station to fulfill our transportation needs.
“We are so excited to acquire these electric vans because not only are we showing our youth that we can be better aligned with our environmental values, but we’re showing them the future of transportation, which is electric. Thank you so much to San Diego Gas and Electric and Citizens Energy for enabling us to do this important work.” – Ben McCue, Executive Director, Outdoor Outreach
With the addition of the electric vans, Outdoor Outreach will increase our capacity to reach youth from San Diego’s most under-resourced communities, while reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Through its Power Your Drive for Fleets program, SDG&E installed the electrical conduits and prepared the site at Outdoor Outreach to enable the installation of EV chargers and the operation of the electric vans. Outdoor Outreach is the first site energized as part of this EV infrastructure program that will deploy a minimum of 3,000 chargers in the region.
Our new electric vans will help us to run over 500 outdoor programs for over 2,000 youth each year, reducing one of the key barriers to youth accessing the outdoors — transportation.
More about environmental stewardship and sustainability at Outdoor Outreach
Outdoor Outreach teaches young leaders about sustainability by integrating lessons on environmental issues, climate change, and ways that youth can better steward the environment into our outdoor programs. Through our Outdoor Voices program, youth are also given the opportunity to bring their voice to environmental issues that matter most to them and affect their communities.
With climate change accelerating at a concerning rate, and its effects seen most dramatically in low income communities and communities of color, it is important that we engage a diverse cadre of youth in efforts towards conservation, environmental protections, and sustainability. Through our programs, youth learn at a young age that the environment is theirs, and that their voice and actions, big or small, can have an impact.
Our sustainability efforts
- Outdoor Outreach has been a Leave No Trace partner for several years, promoting minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors
- We make an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastics during our programs by providing reusable water bottles and utensils
- We reduce paper use by implementing paperless office processes
- We promote “reduce, reuse and recycle” principles in the office and on programs
Outdoor Outreach is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects youth to the transformative power of the outdoors. Through our programs, we’re helping youth build resilience in the face of challenges, and confidence in their power to make a difference.