Outdoor Outreach

About

Outdoor Outreach has engaged with youth in over 23,000 participant hours of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, fishing, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, environmental stewardship, and camping. These outings took place at numerous parks and outdoor recreation venues around San Diego County, and also included overnight outings to more distant destinations, including Joshua Tree National Park. By providing free equipment, transportation, and guided instruction, Outdoor Outreach helps participants experience the power of nature in new ways.

Categories Program Children & Youth Community & Advocacy Educational / Vocational Therapeutic

Program Details

Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach has provided opportunities for more than 19,000 young people to explore their world, cultivate belonging, and discover what they’re capable of. The youth in our programs come from communities that have been historically impacted by social inequities. With every opportunity to surf, bike, kayak, or climb, our programs provide two things that increase their chances of success. First, we provide opportunities for youths to share new experiences, explore close-to-home green spaces, and discover their strengths. And second, we provide meaningful connections with supportive peers and mentors who believe in the participants and show them that they matter.

Services Offered

Youth Development
Adventure-based programs
Leadership Development

Contact info@outdooroutreach.org (619) 238-5790 Outdoor Outreach

Populations Served

Youth
Underserved communities
LGBTQ+

Cost to Participate
There is no cost to participate; we work with different schools and community organizations to provide services.

A leader wearing a blue shirt and a backpack points at a sign. Young people stand around looking at the sign among a dry, brush landscape.

A diverse group walks a path through dry brush. A leader in a blue shirt talks to a girl in a hijab and a boy in a hoodie.

A boy and a girl ride in a tandem kayak. Both hold paddles and wear life vests. The water is calm and there are boats and trees in the background.

Two individuals in the foreground prepare to rock climb by tying knots in ropes on a rock face. The individuals in the foreground are wearing blue helmets, and individuals in the background are wearing orange and black helmets.

A young girl with pink hair rappels down a rock face using rope. The girl is wearing blue jeans and a helmet.

Recent Case Studies

People walk along a gravel path with benches and a waterway in the background.

Place

Muscota Marsh

The restoration of Muscota Marsh in New York City created public waterfront access through land owned by Columbia University while restoring habitat, increasing biodiversity, and improving stormwater management.

People walking and riding bicycles on a path with tall grass on either side of the path and mountains in the background.

Place

Story Mill Community Park

Encompassing 60 acres, Story Mill includes 40 acres of nature preserve with restored wetlands, aspen groves, open meadows, and the East Gallatin River, and 20 acres offering educational and recreational opportunities to engage community members and accommodate gatherings.

Nighttime aerial view shows the illuminated park with a crowd of people sitting on the lawn and the city skyline in the background.

Place

SoundScape Park

The space was transformed from a parking lot into a multi-use park that hosts a busy schedule of social events, including world-class audio-visual experiences, concerts, and film screenings.