Blog
20 Years. 20 Stories. | No. 9 with Sunny Chang
Sunny Chang on her favorite type of Outdoor Outreach outing...“I think any time you have more time to talk to folks and get to know the students beyond the day trip and you get that time to sit around a campfire and get to know them a little bit more, those are some...
20 Years. 20 Stories. | No. 8 with KJ Brussow Osada
Stories from the early days with KJ Brussow OsadaHaving grown up in the mountains, KJ understands the value of the outdoors...She met Chris Rutgers years ago and got a job as Outdoor Outreach’s Field Program and Volunteer Manager. Working with Outdoor Outreach was an...
20 Years. 20 Stories. | No. 6 with Meli
Meli's journey from free floating polyp to blooming sea anemoneMeli found Outdoor Outreach in 2017 and went on a snorkeling trip. Little did she know that this trip would introduce her to passion, marine biology. But, Meli’s journey of success was not easy and full of...
20 Years. 20 Stories. | No. 4 with Juan Alvarez
We hear from Juan Alvarez, Outdoor Outreach instructor, about his nearly 20 years with the organization.Juan first found Outdoor Outreach in 2001. Since then, he’s been through our leadership program, become an instructor, and touched so many lives. When asked what...
Outdoor Outreach Fundraising Gala Marks 20 Years
OUTDOOR OUTREACH CELEBRATES 20 YEARS AT ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT, LEAD THE WAYOutdoor Outreach was founded in 1999 by Chris Rutgers. You can hear our founding story here.This year, Outdoor Outreach celebrates 20 Years of Adventure. That means 20 year of leadership,...
20 Years, 20 Stories No. 3 with Star Soltan Lerach
For our third installment in 20 Stories. 20 Years., we spoke with Star Soltan Lerach, a long time supporter of Outdoor Outreach.Star Soltan Lerach is a lover of the natural world, a mentor to local San Diego youth, and a huge proponent of the power of the outdoors. A...
20 Years. 20 Stories. | No. 2 with Eh Ler Tha
We're continuing our 20 Years, 20 Stories series with a story from Eh Ler, our staff instructor and photographer extraordinaire.Eh Ler joined Outdoor Outreach in his sophomore year of high school. One of the greatest challenges he faced in the beginning was his lack...
Outdoor Outreach Receives Funding through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program
Outdoor Outreach has received another year of funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Wildlife Conservation Program (UWCP).The UWCP has invested in community partners to expand access to nature for underserved youth in San Diego. Through outdoor...
20 Years. 20 Stories. | Q & A with Outdoor Outreach founder Chris Rutgers
We sat down with Outdoor Outreach founder Chris Rutgers to talk about his founding principles, his vision for the organization, and one very important aha moment. Chris founded Outdoor Outreach in 1999, and the vision that he catalyzed is just as present in our work...
Outdoor Outreach will Partner with Rady Children’s Hospital
Outdoor Outreach will Partner with Rady Children’s Hospital in Support of Local Youth Experiencing Mental Health Challenges The unique, collaborative effort will offer teens a program centered on nature-based experiences designed to help them overcome their challenges...