Outdoor Outreach Programs

Outdoor Outreach Programs offers outdoor activities where participants hike, bike, kayak, climb, camp, surf, and rock climb. In the Leadership Program, one youth participant described an 8-week period that included surfing, rock climbing, camping, and spending time with a close-knit group of peers.

• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Schedule: 8-week Leadership Program mentioned

Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach Programs has connected more than 23,000 young people with the outdoors, including more than 23,000 San Diego youth. The mission of Outdoor Outreach is to connect youth to the transformative power of the outdoors, with a vision of an outdoors for all that inspires and sustains healthy, vibrant communities. Outdoor Outreach states that its values are Positivity, Choice, Respect, Authenticity, Possibility, Equity, and Passion, and it also has an El Cajon Valley High School Adventure Club.

Youth participants describe their experiences with Outdoor Outreach Programs in their own words. Abby, a youth participant, shares that she had her first experiences jumping in waves, building sandcastles, going camping, and feeling a sunburn through the program. Ivonne, another youth participant, recalls her first trip to Mount San Jacinto, seeing snow for the first time, and talking with many peers during a hike. Pedro, a youth participant, describes learning to surf on an Outdoor Outreach trip, taking part in an 8-week Leadership Program with surfing, rock climbing, and camping, and connecting these experiences to his healing and future goals. Zenab, a youth participant, describes reaching the top on a trip, feeling that she could do much more, and sharing that the experience led her parents to see her doing things beyond their norm.

Last updated June 29, 2026.