Outdoor Outreach 2016 Annual Report

Outdoor Outreach
Annual Report
2016
Photo credit: John Cocozza Photography

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
At Outdoor Outreach, we inspire young people to
conquer their fears, believe in themselves, and
pursue their dreams. Through joy-filled activities like surfing,
climbing, and mountain biking, our participants safely explore
vulnerability, risk and responsibility —factors that are critical for
healthy youth development. For some, our programs help them become
more resilient in the face of trauma; for others, we help build confidence
and connections they need to achieve in school and at work. For
all of our participants, Outdoor Outreach is a way to connect to
something greater than themselves.
Many of the youth we serve grow up with messages of what they can’t
do or be. Now more than ever, Outdoor Outreach’s innovative work is
necessary to help open a world of possibility and opportunity to
vulnerable and at-risk youth.
In 2016, we increased our programs by nearly 20% as compared to
2015. Our growth and impact would not be possible without our
dedicated staff, community partners, and committed donors. I am
excited to see what we can accomplish together in 2017.
2016 Number of Programs by Type
Parks & Beaches
Surfing
Other
Gear Fitting & Basecamp
Training
40
5
31
57
14
37
14
Rock Climbing
Leadership Training and Advocacy
27
44 30
Kayaking
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Mountain Biking
Snowboarding
Hiking / Backpacking / Camping
Yoga
14
52
67
54
Environmental Education &
Stewardship
Sincerely,
Ben McCue
Executive Director
Total Programs by Year
2016
2015
391
486
2014
367
2013
303
Total Individual Youth Served
2016
2015
2014
2013
1,513
1,244
1,046
1,028
OUTDOOR OUTREACH THEORY OF CHANGE
• Exposing youth to a safe, joyful and natural
environment
• Engaging in physically, emotionally, and mentally
challenging outdoor activities
• Developing positive relationships with
supportive peers & mentors
POSITIVE ATTITUDE CHANGE
• Cultivating open mindedness
• Improving self-image
• Understanding that there are choices
• Seeing the world from a different view
• Developing hope, respect, confidence,
and responsibility

PLAY AND LEARN
BEHIND THE LENS WITH PHOTOGRAPHER
DREW MCGILL
“Choosing to volunteer with Outdoor Outreach was a no brainer for me.
I wanted to be able to capture how important it is for these kids to be
able to connect with positive mentors, while learning new skills or
testing their limits in the outdoors.
It’s difficult to select one moment or one image to sum up my
experience working with Outdoor Outreach. For me, it’s about
connecting with the kids and getting them excited about doing new
things, cheering on a new friend going up a wall for the first time, or
giving a high five just to share your stoke.
This image (right) clearly showcases one of many inspiring moments
I’ve had with Outdoor Outreach. Miriam, the OO instructor in the red
shirt, was offering such positive words of encouragement to the
climbers, while in the foreground two students are talking about their
last climb and what a rush it was. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine this
may be their first time ever rock climbing. It just gets me so stoked to
go on another adventure.”
2016 School and Youth-Serving Organization Partners
DAVID & ALLYN JOHNSTON |
GIVING THE GIFT OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Photo credit: Drew McGill
Any Body Can Youth
Foundation
Barrio Logan College
Institute
The Blue Heart
Foundation
California National
Guard
Casa de Amistad
Center on Policy
Initiatives
Chaparral High School
Community Housing
Works
County of San Diego
Department of Parks
and Recreation: Lakeside
and Spring Valley
Teen Centers
Crawford High School
El Cajon Valley High
School
Girls Rising
Gompers Preparatory
Academy
Ground Works
Interfaith Community
Services
Jerusalem Foundation
Juvenile Court and
Community Schools
Keiller Leadership
Academy
King Chavez Community
High School
Lincoln High School
The Monarch School
Monte Vista High
School
Mount Miguel High
School
North County Lifeline
Club Crown Heights
Orfalea Foundation
The O’Farrell Charter
School
Project A.W.A.R.E.
San Diego Show
Allstars
San Elijo Lagoon
Conservancy- Ecology
Club
San Pasqual Academy
San Ysidro Health
Center- FLEXX
Program
South Bay Community
Services:
Chula Vista Promise
Neighborhood
South Bay Community
Services:
EXCEL Program
St. Vincent de Paul
Village
David and Allyn Johnston found Outdoor Outreach through a benefit
event at their climbing gym almost 10 years ago. It struck a chord.
Says David, “I am a school teacher, and used to work at a school where
kids didn’t have the opportunity to do outdoor activities… Going to the
beach or mountains isn’t something that all kids can do on a regular
basis. We were really impressed with Outdoor Outreach.”
Since 2008, the Johnstons’ generous support has provided 10 local
hikes at Torrey Pines, Mission Trails and more, giving more than 100
teens the opportunity to find and apply their strengths, and develop a
new narrative of what they can do an be. What keeps the Johnstons
coming back? “To see kids outside, smiling having a great time,” says
David. “It’s really about the opportunity - to give kids opportunities
they otherwise wouldn’t have.”
BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
• Becoming more open to help & outside assistance
• Asking for help when needed & helping others
• Trusting others
• Setting goals
RESPONSIBLE AND HEALTHY
ADULTS
• Becoming a responsible citizen
• Improving academic achievement
• Engaging in post-secondary education
• Obtaining a job
• Environmental stewardship

SERVE AND SHARE
FACES OF OUTDOOR OUTREACH |SAMEER AZIMI
MEET OUR TEAM| JUAN ALVAREZ
Sameer graduated from Outdoor Outreach’s Leadership Program in 2015. Now a
part-time instructor at OO, Sameer finds joy in helping other refugee youth realize
possibility and opportunity in their lives.
“My family and I came to the United States from Kabul 12 years ago to
escape the Taliban. My mom didn’t know any English when we arrived
in the U.S. She wore a hijab for a while, but after someone attacked her
and pulled it off, it scared her so much that she stopped wearing it. At 7
years old I was translating legal documents for my dad to get a visa. He
was able to join us in the U.S. 8 years later.
I found Outdoor Outreach at my high school in El Cajon. I graduated
with honors, but was struggling to find a part-time job. No one wanted
to give me a chance. But Outdoor Outreach gave me a job. Perhaps the
most rewarding part is that I get to go back to my school and see so
many kids like me.
What strikes me the most is how much they appreciate the world of
possibility that can be found in this country. The sense of relief and
freedom is indescribable. I wish fear didn’t drive people’s perception of
refugees. We are just normal people.”
FUELING OUR ADVENTURES IN 2016
20,800 Granola Bars
Juan Alvarez knows what it takes to
make Outdoor Outreach run like
a well-oiled machine. He’s been
doing it for over 10 years.
When Juan joined Outdoor
Outreach in 2004 as one of the
first-ever Leadership Program
participants, the organization was
running out of founder Chris
Rutgers’ garage, with nothing but
climbing gear, a few surfboards, a
couple sleeping bags, and a tent.
Today, as Outdoor Outreach’s Logistics Coordinator, Juan manages
two warehouse storage units full of surfboards, paddles, helmets and
much more, plus a bike repair shop where he maintains OO’s 31
mountain bikes. He also makes sure Outdoor Outreach’s 5-van fleet is
up to the task of transporting teens on nearly 500 programs each year
throughout San Diego County and beyond. On top of all that, Juan
makes multiple trips to Costco each week to buy deli sandwiches, trail
mix, hummus, fruit and other snacks to fuel OO participants for their
after-school, weekend and summer adventures.
To anyone else, Outdoor Outreach’s inventory and logistical challenges
would be overwhelming. But having seen where OO started, Juan
appreciates it all. “We’re still small but we’re running with the big dogs,
and we’ve grown every year. That makes me so proud,” says Juan.
5,200 Clementines
7 lb of Sunscreen
You’re not just changing kids lives... for
some of them you’re saving their lives.
Thank you for choosing to use your time
and talents to make a difference.
Vanessa Moreno,
School Psyschologist, Morse High School
BARRIERS TO ACCESS
FAST FACTS
77% of participants lack transportation to parks and beaches.
39% aren’t aware of green spaces near their homes.
15% say gangs or crime make close-to-home green spaces
unsafe.
52% of field staff are Leadership Program
participants and graduates
126 volunteers contributed 1,066 hours
to support our outdoor programs

THANK YOU
Our success would not be possible
without the support of our many,
generous donors:
$25,000 +: County of San Diego,
The Legler Benbough Foundation, Price
Philanthropies, San Diego Gas & Electric,
The San Diego Foundation, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Walter J. and Betty C.
Zable Foundation
$10,000–$24,000: Bridgepoint
Education, Cooley LLP, David C. Copley
Foundation, KEEN Effect, Leann &
Kevin McCarthy, Marisla Fund of the
Orange County Community Foundation,
The North Face Explore Fund, prAna,
Qualcomm Foundation, Resources
Legacy Fund, Syndey Holland
Foundation, Bravo Foundation,
California Wellness Foundation, Wells
Fargo Foundation
$5,000–$9,999: Alan & Terri Wiessner,
California State Parks Foundation, Cox
Communications, Cushman Foundation,
Day For Change, Eagle Creek, Fortune
Builders, Heller Foundation of San
Diego, Jiji Foundation Fund, Mesa Rim
Climbing & Fitness Center, Nordson
Corporation Foundation, Paul & Nelly
Dean, The Country Friends, The Thomas
C. Ackerman Foundation, Rose
Foundation, Tiano Family Foundation
$2,500–$4,999: Boys and Girls
Foundation, ESET North America,
Adventure 16, California American
Water, North County Board Meeting,
Todd & Renee Cantor, SIMA
Humanitarian Fund, CLIF Bar Family
Foundation, WiLDCOAST/CA Coastal
Conservancy, Ricky Schlesinger & Judy
Nakatomi
$1,000–$2,499: 1908 Brands, Andrew
McGill, Ann & Rodney Moll, Bill & Jami
Voge, Black Diamond Equipment Ltd.,
Brian & Michelle Cox, Carol & Henry F.
Hunte, Cathy & Matthew Hervey, Chaos
Headwear, Costas Alexakos, Darren
Schneider, David & Robin Durr, Doug
Burke & Irina Telyukova, Esther &
Christopher Northrup, Heidi Wolin,
Jerry O’Dwyer, John Kirkman, Karl
Luber, Lightspeed Outdoors, Lucky
Seven Foundation, Mandell Weiss
Charitable Trust, Matt Clapp, Milo
Hama, Naomi & Brian Slusser, Papoose
Conservation Wildlife Foundation,
Patagonia, Peter & Kathleen Metcalf,
RightOn Productions, Roger & Lisa
Spatz, San Diego Women’s Foundation,
Schwab Charitable, Sergio Langarica &
Megan DePaulo, Smith Optics, Sony
Electronics, Inc., Scott & Susan
Shepherd, Stein & Katharine Lundby,
Ted & Rozanne Reguly, Teen
Grantmaking Initiative at YALLA San
Diego, Timothy Deatherage, Arthur &
Jeanette Pratt Memorial Fund, Hay
Foundation, The Wallace Fox
Foundation, US Bank Foundation, Vans,
Inc., WD-40 Company, West Marine
BlueFuture Fund
Core Staff
2016 Financials
Ben McCue
Executive Director
Joe McLeod
Director of Operations
Mallory Thorne
Director of Development
Molly Morelli
Finance & Administrative Director
Kim Stolkowski
Program Operations Manager
Hanna Gneiting
Youth Programs Manager
Cuyla Coogan
Community Engagement Manager
Juliette Brezin
Development & Communications
Coordinator
Juan Alvarez
Program Logistics Coordinator
Dustin Punches
Youth Programs Coordinator
Josh Osias
Youth & Environmental Programs
Coordinator
Stephanie Halper
Program Operations Coordinator
Sunny Chang
Youth Programs Coordinator
Luis Perez
Youth Programs Coordinator
Board of Directors
Ricky Schlesinger, Chair
Eagle Creek Travel Gear
Douglas Burke
Cognitive Medical Systems
Todd Cantor
PMsquare
David Gell
Olympus Sky
Sergio Langarica
Sony Electronics
Stein Lundby
QUALCOMM, Inc.
Esther Northrup
Cox Communications
Ted Reguly
Sempra Energy
Naomi Slusser
Naval Surface & Mine Warfighting
Development Center
Roger Spatz
Eagle Creek Travel Gear
Nancy Tran
UTC Aerospace Systems
2016 Revenue
Individual $122,265
Government $145,224
Foundation $385,583
Corporate $109,167
Church-civic $4,200
Board $19,983
Fee for service $200,483
In-kind donations $36,597
Misc. $2,206
Gain / Loss on assets $0
Net Assets Released from restriction $206,500
2016 Expenses
TOTAL: $1,096,062
2016 Assets
Fixed assets $91,271
Cash $324,899
Other current assets $47,177
TOTAL: $463,347
2016 Liabilities
Current liabilities $14,434
NET ASSETS $448,913
*$76,908 - Temporarily restricted funds for 2017 program deliverables
TOTAL* $1,232,208

5275 Market Street, Suite 21
San Diego, CA 92114
Outdoor Outreach
Annual Report
2016
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For more information about how you can
partner with Outdoor Outreach, contact Mallory:
mallory.thorne@outdooroutreach.org,
or call 619-238-5790.
Connect with us:
www.outdooroutreach.org
/OutdoorOutreach
@OutdoorOutreach
@OutdoorOutreach
Photo credit: Drew McGill