Spring has arrived in Southern California.  We've put away our snowboards for the year and dusted off the surfboards, kayaks and snorkeling gear to head into the ocean.  With lots of fresh snow in local mountains we were able to hold 16 snowboard trips to Big Bear and Mammoth mountains, our busiest snowboard season to date.  As we gear up for our busy summer season we are looking for committed volunteers to help on our various trips.  In addition to our rock climbing and mountain biking programs that run year round we need help with our snorkeling, camping and over 40 surf camps we will be running this summer.  If you're interested in helping out please contact volunteer coordinator Erin Sheehy, at erin@outdooroutreach.org.  

Leadership Graduation

Angel Cadena, Latisha Parker and Cody Marshall are the latest graduates of our Leadership Program.  They have all completed the year long training and internship program and are now paid members of our staff as junior instructors.  Our Leadership program is the cornerstone of Outdoor Outreach programming.  Through an application and interview process, promising teens are selected to participate in an intensive, year-long training that provides them with the skills necessary to instruct and mentor program participants.  The program is designed to promote each individual's natural leadership strengths while providing tangible academic, emotional and social support. We continue to monitor these young leaders as they balance their part-time jobs at Outdoor Outreach, college classes, financial independence and the challenges of moving into the world as working adults.

Matching Grant Opportunity

The Parker Foundation has given Outdoor Outreach an amazing matching grant opportunity. The Parker Foundation will match any donation from individual donors this year up to $22,000.  This year we are facing a challenge in receiving funding from private foundations and grantors, as there has been a shift in priorities to funding broader state-wide concerns rather than smaller grass-roots organizations like Outdoor Outreach.  We have already received $10,000 from individual donors this year.  We know that with your help, we can immediately raise the remaining $12,000 in funds necessary to release this grant.  We are counting on your support now more than ever.  To make a tax-deductible donation online please click here.   Thank you for your support.

Thank You

Here at Outdoor Outreach, we are 100% committed to working with at-risk and underprivileged youth... Youth who, otherwise, would never have the opportunity to experience the outdoors. We are very proud of the fact that no youth has ever paid for any of our programming. This is made possible only through the support of our many generous donors. We'd like to acknowledge recent grants made by the following contributors: The UPS Foundation, The Youth in the Outdoors Legacy Fund, The Sundt Foundation, The Pratt Memorial Fund, Las Patronas,  ZOIC, Smartwool, SAIC, Deep Yoga, the Downtown Lions Club of San Diego, La Mesa Rotary, and Fletcher Hills Kiwanis Club.

Youth Spotlight

"My name is Lizette I am 17 years old and have been part of the Lincoln High School Adventure Club for two years.  Outdoor Outreach is the best program there is for teenagers because it helps get us out of trouble.  Before I got involved with Outdoor Outreach I was bad.  I was in a gang, got in fights and got high every day.  I didn't care what happened to me.  I was doing really bad in school and getting suspended all the time.  In the 10^th grade my teacher told me about Outdoor Outreach.  I started going to the club meetings and met new people.  I got really into surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking.  Those are the things that changed my life in a very good and powerful way.  Those are the things I never thought I could have done, not a girl that has parents that are druggies and big time gangsters.  If I can change like this anybody can.  I am so grateful to be a part of Outdoor Outreach, I wish everybody could do it too."