Adventure Out

Adventure Out offers surf lessons and camps, rock climbing classes, backpacking trips, mountain biking, wilderness survival instruction, and adventure tours. Specific options include 1-Day Surfing San Francisco (Pacifica), 1-Day Surfing Santa Cruz, Private Surf Lessons, Rock Climbing 1, the Wilderness Survival Course (Santa Cruz), and the Wilderness Survival Course (Marin).

• Price: The first 20 affiliated programs will receive the founding partner rate of $250 per year for the right to affiliate and license the name “Adventure Out.” After the first 30 affiliates are accepted, the cost of affiliation for new affiliates will increase to $750 per year.

Adventure Out has been in business since 2004. The stated mission is: “We provide a program & environment that empowers and supports people of all walks-of-life to achieve their wildest adventures in the outdoors, while fostering a respect for and connection to the natural environment.” Since its founding in 2004, the mission of Adventure Out has been to help people fall back in love with nature.

The leadership team includes Alan Yu (Manager of Pacifica Surf School, SF SUP, & Wilderness Medical), Jack Harrison (Head Survival Instructor & Program Director), Mimi Fenech (Head Climbing Instructor & Guide), Chase LaRue (Santa Cruz Surf Instructor Manager), and Cliff Hodges (CEO & Founder). Jack Harrison holds a Track & Sign Professional and Specialist Certificate through Cyber Tracker International and spent a year at the Wilderness Awareness School, described as one of the only accredited wilderness studies programs in the world.

Minimum requirements for Surf Instructors in Santa Cruz and Pacifica include First-Aid/CPR Certification (which can be acquired upon hiring), with desired skills of at least 5 years of surfing experience, experience teaching, and a passion for the ocean. Minimum requirements for Rock Climbing Instructors/Guides include First-Aid/CPR Certification, with desired skills of 5 years of climbing experience, experience teaching, a passion for climbing, and climbing certification (SPI or greater) noted as a plus; instructors need transportation in their own vehicle for the daily commute. Adventure Out states that it has a perfect safety record.

Adventure Out describes itself as California’s premiere outdoor school specializing in surf lessons and camps, rock climbing classes, backpacking trips, mountain biking, wilderness survival instruction, and adventure tours. It operates a network of outdoor schools, guide services, and wilderness education programs across the country that are dedicated to quality of service and programming and to fostering environmental stewardship. Adventure Out affiliates may be accredited programs or businesses upon approval and remain independently owned rather than franchised.

A portion of each reservation fee is donated to environmental conservation in the wild and natural places visited with Adventure Out. Affiliates receive marketing support, client referrals, advertising assistance, website assistance, and a one-on-one business consulting session with the Founder & CEO. Affiliates also have access to pre-negotiated group buying power with discounts on outdoor gear, as well as discounted business services such as insurance premiums and website construction, and a Guide Training and Certification program linked to affiliation eligibility.

Last updated July 7, 2026.