Our Work
With every opportunity to surf, bike, kayak, or climb, our programs provide thousands of youth each year with two things that greatly increase their chances of success…
First, opportunities to share new experiences, cultivate belonging, and discover their strengths. And second, meaningful connections with supportive peers and mentors who believe in their potential.
Through partnerships with 40+ schools and social service agencies, Outdoor Outreach provides adventure-based positive youth development programming for youth ages 9-24 whose communities have been historically impacted by social inequities.
OUR PROGRAMS BY THE NUMBERS
Total youth served since 1999
%
of Outdoor Outreach outings are facilitated by a field instructor who graduated from the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program
hours of annual instructor training
KEY INITIATIVES
Positive Youth Development
Our overarching purpose is to support critical needs of youth from under-resourced communities through meaningful outdoor experiences and mentorship. Outdoor Outreach’s adventure-based program model provides youth with tools, support systems, and confidence to face down their unique challenges, thrive, and succeed.
Workforce Development
Our intensive, nature-based job training program connects participants with pathways to employment in the outdoor industry and beyond. This type of early work experience has been shown to help young people graduate from high school, attain higher levels of education, avoid substance abuse, and develop a sense of self-efficacy and desire to succeed.
Environmental Education
Building on the stepping stones of outdoor recreation, every Outdoor Outreach program has ingrained lessons on sustainability and conservation, inspiring young people to respect and protect the places where they play and forging an action-oriented connection with close-to-home green spaces.
Outdoor Advocacy
Outdoor Outreach youth advocates inform local, state, and federal decision makers on the barriers some youth face in accessing outdoor spaces, and encourages them to make policy decisions that support outdoor opportunities for all. Outdoor Outreach participants have the opportunity to partake in several advocacy trainings and events each year.
Our Participants
GENDER OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
%
Female
%
Male
%
Non-Binary
FROM A PARTICIPANT’S PERSPECTIVE
- Lack transportation to outdoor spaces 75%
- Not aware of green spaces near their homes 44%
- Gangs or crime make close-to-home green spaces unsafe 13%
ETHNICITY OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
OUR PARTNERS
Barrio Logan College Institute
Castle Park High School
Chaparral High School
Chula Vista High School
Crawford High School
e3 Civic High
El Cajon Valley High School
Escondido Community School
High Tech High Chula Vista
Hoover High School
Ingenuity Charter
Innovations Academy
International Rescue Committee – San Diego
King Chavez High School
Lemon Grove Academy Elementary
Lemon Grove Academy Middle
Lincoln High School
Loma Linda University Health – SHINE Outdoor Equity Program
Mar Vista High School
Mid-City CAN
Monarch School
Morse High School
Mount Miguel High school
National Conflict Resolution Center
North County Technology Academy
Orange Glen High School
Pablo Tac
Preuss School
Pro Kids, First Tee San Diego
Reach Academy
Reality Changers
San Diego County Office of Education Juvenile Court and Community Schools
San Ysidro High School
SAY San Diego
Southern Indian Health Council
Sweetwater High School
The Blue Heart Foundation
The O’Farrell Charter School
Twin Oaks
Urban Corps of San Diego
Vista High School
Risk Management
Learn more about our Safety and Risk Management Philosophy and Goals
Partner With Us
Interested in partnering with us on a program for your school or community organization?
