SUMMER ADVENTURES
FAQs
Unlike many day camps, each day we explore somewhere new. Surfing in Coronado, snorkeling in Mission Bay, or exploring San Diego Bay by kayak… every day is a new adventure! Outdoor Outreach provides opportunities for campers to explore their world, challenge themselves, and discover what they’re capable of, surrounded by supportive peers and mentors who believe in their potential.
There is a maximum of 14 campers per group, for the entire session. The small group size helps campers develop meaningful connections and a sense of belonging that stay with them long after camp ends.
Where do campers meet each morning? Is there any flexibility with the pick up and drop off location?
Campers will meet at the Outdoor Outreach headquarters located at 5275 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92114. On a case-by-case basis, we may make an exception for campers to be dropped off or picked up at the location of the day’s activities. If you are interested in flexible drop off and pick up options, please email summeradventures@outdooroutreach.org or call (619) 238-5790 ext. 115.
Registration will initially be open for only one session per camper. If your child is interested in attending more than one session, please select the additional session from the Wait List option at checkout. If spaces become available, or additional sessions are opened, we will contact wait listed families in the order in which they signed up.
For all paddlesport activities like kayaking or SUP, campers will wear Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets) at all times. When we surf, campers will always be in water no more than chest deep, and will be able to use their surfboard as a flotation device. Like all of our programs, water sport activities are managed by experienced instructors who are there to help campers feel safe in the water, regardless of their swimming ability.
At this time, Outdoor Outreach is unable to accommodate special needs youth. This link is an online resource to Special Needs camps local to San Diego.
No, Outdoor Outreach is not affiliated with any religious groups. We are a San Diego Non Profit 501(c)(3) where diversity and inclusion are inherent in all we do. We invite and welcome youth from all cultures and beliefs to join our programs.
Registration is open until filled, or until 8 days prior to the first day of the session. If it is within 8 days of the start of a session, and you’re interested in potential openings, please call (619) 238-5890 ext. 115, or email summeradventures@outdooroutreach.org.
Payment is due in full at the time of registration in order to secure your spot in a particular camp.
You may cancel your enrollment up to 21 days before the first day of the session in which you are enrolled for a 100% refund. There will be no refunds less than 21 days from the first day of camp. If you would like to cancel your enrollment, please call (619) 238-5790 ext. 115, or email summeradventures@outdooroutreach.org.
We search far and wide for diverse instructors who help every young person feel included, valued and appreciated. Each staff member is at least CPR and first-aid certified, as well as background-checked. While on land, our instructor to camper ratio is at least 1 to 6. In the water, that ratio is just 1 to 3.
After you register for a camp session, you will receive a follow-up email with a link to a waiver and medical information form. On that form you will have the ability to list dietary restrictions, as well as any other medical and health needs. Our team thoroughly reviews those forms to ensure each camper’s needs are being met.
Outdoor Outreach is a nonprofit organization that partners with more than 40 schools and agencies in San Diego to provide year-round adventure programs for youth ages 9 - 24. Since 1999, we have opened the outdoors to nearly 12,500 individual youth, providing more than 500 opportunities each year for tweens and teens to bike, hike, snowboard, kayak and more. While we have deep experience in the field of outdoor education, we are not an accredited summer camp.
We are adventurous, but we are never reckless. Everything we do is rooted in best practices for risk management, from our program design to our instructor training. Safety is our greatest concern, and our activities and instructors meet and exceed industry standards for safety.
We are passionate about making our organization -- and the outdoors as a whole -- a welcoming and inclusive place, and we know our ability to achieve that begins with engaging and partnering with people from all walks of life. Both in values and in practice, we have a commitment to:
- Striving to ensure relevancy by supporting and being present in the community;
- Actively creating an environment where we can celebrate the backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs makes us unique, and appreciate the differences of others
- Intentionally building a culture that is flexible, values diverse ideas, and embraces the meaningful participation of all.
We believe that with each chance to surf, bike, hike or kayak, we’re also giving youth a reason and opportunity to care about nature. Leave No Trace helps reinforce our mission, reminding us to respect the places where we play so future generations can enjoy those places, too. We lead by example, teaching youth to respect themselves, others, and the environment by demonstrating that same respect in our words and actions. We embrace the core principles of Leave No Trace on every program we provide, and allowing each young person to discover how those principles can be applied to the world around them.
Outdoor Outreach provides everything your child needs for a full day in the great outdoors. That includes equipment like kayaks, surfboards, life jackets and wetsuits. But it also includes things like sunscreen, hats, water bottles and even bathing suits. Prior to the start of camp, you’ll receive a packet with information about what your child should wear each day. Each camper should show up ready for an adventure, and we’ll provide the rest!
We strongly encourage our campers to disconnect from technology and to connect to nature and the surrounding environment. We encourage our participants to turn off their electronic devices and leave their devices stowed away for the duration of the trip, keeping in mind the need to have devices available to communicate with guardians or family members at the end of a trip for pick up. We invite you to help us create a culture of awareness and connectedness by limiting communication with your participant while they are on a trip.
Your sign up and payment holds your camper’s spot in a particular session. To complete the registration process, please fill out the Participant General Information Form at your earliest convenience.
Our motto is “Challenge by Choice.” We encourage all campers to try each activity at least once, but understand that each child’s boundaries are different. We find that when campers challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zone, they come away with a new view of who they are and what they’re capable of. Our staff believe in each child’s potential, and are there to help them push themselves to overcome their fears.
At a Glance
AGE INTEREST
Teens, Tweens
DATES
July 8-12 (Ages 11-13)
July 22-26 (Ages 11-13)
August 5-9 (Ages 14-17)
TIMES
8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Extended Day options available 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
TUITION
Full Tuition: $400
Tuition assistance available! Click here to apply for financial aid:
APPLY FOR TUTION ASSISTANCE
Tuition includes
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Lunch and healthy snacks
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Transportation to parks, trails and beaches in our 14 passenger vans
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Equipment and instruction for kayaking, stand up boarding, ocean exploring, and more
NEXT STEPS
Interested in applying for tuition assistance?
Tuition assistance is available on a sliding scale to those who demonstrate family need. A staff member will follow up with you by phone or email to communicate the financial aid decision within 3 weeks of your application.
APPLY
Ready to enroll your child?
Registration for Outdoor Outreach’s Summer Adventures is 100% online. Payment is due in full at the time of registration in order to secure your spot in a particular camp
Were you already pre-approved for tuition assistance? Use the code you received by email to register now!
SIGN UP FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE
Once you've enrolled...
After you register, you will receive a follow-up email with links to two online forms:
1) A liability release and medical form; and 2) A contract outlining our values and expectations for a safe, healthy and enjoying camp experience. Please submit these forms in a timely manner to ensure we’re able to hold your spot.
Still have a few questions? That’s OK!
Want to talk? We’re here to help! Call (619) 238-5790 ext. 115, or email
summeradventures@
