Adventure Out

Adventure Out offers activities such as surf lessons and surf 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, Wilderness Survival Course (Santa Cruz), and Wilderness Survival Course (Marin). The program also runs Corporate Retreats, a Guide Training Program, wilderness medical instruction, and lifeguard training.

• Price: The first 20 affiliated programs pay $250 per year to affiliate and license the name “Adventure Out,” and after the first 30 affiliates are accepted, new affiliates pay $750 per year.

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, and it reports a perfect safety record. The organization states that it donates a portion of each reservation fee to environmental conservation in the wild and natural places visited, and it operates as a network of outdoor schools, guide services, and wilderness education programs across the country. Its mission statement 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.” Adventure Out has been in business since 2004.

The leadership team includes CEO and Founder Cliff Hodges, Manager of Pacifica Surf School, SF SUP, & Wilderness Medical Alan Yu, Head Survival Instructor & Program Director Jack Harrison, Head Climbing Instructor & Guide Mimi Fenech, and Santa Cruz Surf Instructor Manager Chase LaRue. Minimum requirements for Surf Instructor positions in Santa Cruz and Pacifica and for Rock Climbing Instructor/Guide positions include First-Aid/CPR Certification. Desired skills for Surf Instructor positions include at least 5 years of surfing experience, experience teaching, and a passion for the ocean, while desired skills for Rock Climbing Instructor/Guide include 5 years of climbing experience, experience teaching, a passion for climbing, and climbing certification (SPI or greater) as a plus. Jack Harrison holds a Track & Sign Professional and Specialist Certificate through Cyber Tracker International, Mimi Fenech has completed both the Single Pitch Instructor and Rock Guide Course through the American Mountain Guide Association, and Cliff Hodges holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT. Related media facts include that Cliff Hodges has been featured in Outside Magazine and Popular Mechanics and co-hosted the TV show Remote Survival on the National Geographic Channel, with additional mentions such as NatGeo’s Remote Survival, an Outside Magazine profile, a Santa Cruz “Nextie” Award, MTV’s MADE, Popular Mechanics, and MIT Technology Review.

Adventure Out runs an affiliation model that is explicitly not franchising, and affiliates remain independently owned. Affiliates can choose branding options such as “Adventure Out Oregon,” co-branding, or private branding while still receiving referrals. The affiliate licensing rate is guaranteed for life at the rate at which the affiliate began. Listed benefits of affiliation include increased exposure, nationwide brand recognition, client referrals, partnerships with other affiliates, business coaching and consultation, pre-negotiated group buying power for discounts on outdoor gear, marketing assistance, access to discounted business services such as insurance premiums and website construction, and membership in a community of like-minded adventurers and business owners.

Last updated April 8, 2026.