We're just putting the wraps on another busy summer season. As the water and air temperatures cool down, we'll be transitioning from our surf and marine science programs and doing more rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking trips. So, all of the volunteers who like to help out with the mountain based activities check our trip calendar online and let us know when you can join us. We'll also continue to run our surf camps on a more limited basis throughout the fall and winter, so get your wetsuits ready and meet us at the beach.

 

Juan Herrera Named Outdoor Idol

 

Past leadership program participant and current staff member Juan Herrera was recently named one of eight Outdoor Idols by the Outdoor Industry Foundation. Outdoor Idols are youth athletes that are pushing the threshold of their sports and inspiring the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. A panel of 20 outdoor journalists, industry leaders and outdoor athletes nominated and voted to select the final list of Outdoor Idols.

 

The panel chose from a broad range of outdoor activities, including climbing, bouldering, biking, trail running, adventure racing, whitewater paddling, mountaineering, fly-fishing, expeditions, and outdoor instruction. As an Outdoor Idol, Juan has become an ambassador for the youth market to the outdoor industry. Juan was flown out to Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer Show where he was officially announced as an Outdoor Idol and participated in press conferences, poster signings, and sat on the show's closing keynote panel. Congratulations Juan! If you'd like an autographed copy of Juan's Outdoor Idol poster just call or write to the office.

 

To learn more about Juan, see Juan's story under "Confessions" at the "Launch a 180" micro site. 

 

Outdoor Industry Support

 

Over $6,000 was raised for Outdoor Outreach from outdoor industry sponsors at the 2006 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Gramicci, Gregory Mountain Products, and Clive all held separate fundraising events at the show and named Outdoor Outreach as the beneficiary. We are extremely grateful to all the wonderful people at each company who put time and energy into helping raising funds and awareness for our mission. Thank you!

 

>> Current Sponsor Gregory

 

Gomper's High Adventure Club

 

Thanks to a generous grant from the Legler Benbough Foundation we have recently created an Outdoor Adventure Club at Gompers High School. Gompers lies in the Diamond District in Southeast San Diego, one of the most underserved communities in San Diego. Coming from a neighborhood riddled with gangs and violence, a multicultural and ethnically diverse group of kids have come together to form the club. Club members are Hispanic, African American and Pacific Islander, with refugee students from Africa and Asia as well. It's been great to watch the kids share not only their new experiences in the outdoors, but also come together and share their unique backgrounds.

 

Below is an email sent from one of the club members (a recent arrival from Vietnam) to our Director of Programs, Rachel Rabinor, after a recent surf camp. "Thanks Miss Rachel. You know what, I came from another country but you didn't care about it. You drove me to the beaches, made food for me to eat, and teach me how to surf. What can I say now, Thank you too much Miss Rachel, and thank you to every good people at Outdoor Outreach. All of you are my friends." Loc Chau

 

Outdoor Outreach Charity Auction

 

In partnership with eBay Giving Works and MissionFish, Outdoor Outreach will be holding its first ever online charity auction on October 16th. We've been collecting donated items for the auction primarily from sponsors in the action sports and outdoor retail industries. We've created a special website through MissionFish where each item will be listed for auction. In addition, each item will be taken by eBay Giving Works and listed throughout eBay with a special icon noting that the item is designated for charity.

 

You can visit the auction site at: http://www.missionfish.org/NPMMF/nphomepage.jsp?NP_ID=14993.  If you'd like to donate an item or have any questions about the auction please contact our Office Manager Rachele Marsh at: rachele_marsh@outdooroutreach.org.

 

Thank You

 

Every trip and each youth we serve is made possible through the generous contributions of individuals, businesses, and foundations. We'd like to thank our most recent funders for helping make our mission of helping at-risk and underprivileged youth develop confidence and self-esteem through participation in outdoor activities possible. Recent funders include: Peace Cereal, REI, The Biogen Idec Foundation, The Intuit Foundation, The Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation at Union Bank of California, Gramicci, Gregory, Clive, and Teledyne.

 

We'd also like to thank each individual who has contributed their time, energy, or money towards the youth we serve. We always need help, if you'd like to volunteer you can click here for more information. If you'd like to make a donation, please click here.

 

Monarch Kids Paddle for Clean Water

 

We're just putting the finishing touches on a comprehensive summer surf program with The Monarch School. The Monarch School is a San Diego school dedicated to serving the local homeless youth population. Over the course of the summer we've had ten surf trips for the kids. Ranging from quick after school surf session on Coronado, to all day surf camps in Encinitas, to an entire weekend surf camping trip at San Onofre, the kids have had the opportunity to progress through the learning curve and become passionate about surfing.

 

Last weekend the kids from Monarch joined the Surfrider Foundation to Paddle for Clean Water. The Paddle for Clean Water is a non competitive event that consists of hundreds of local beach goers paddling around the Ocean Beach Pier in a joint effort to bring awareness to the pollution problem along San Diego's coastline. At nearly 2,000 feet, the Ocean Beach Pier is the longest concrete pier in the world. With the help of Outdoor Outreach staff and Surfrider volunteers, the kids made the entire paddle around the pier on their surfboards. Way to go! In addition, the kids won second place in a competion to design the most creative watercraft. The kids worked hard to create the "Stop Pollution" watercraft in art class the week before.

 

The Surfrider Foundation has become an important part of our Surf Program. Surfrider volunteers regularly attend our surf camps to educate the kids on the coastal ecosystems and the effects of pollution on the marine environment. Special thanks to the San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and all of their great volunteers for their hard work and support.