Abby grew up isolated from her peers because of her family’s economic and immigration status. “I grew up knowing I didn’t have the same opportunities as others. I had never experienced jumping in a wave, or building a sandcastle, or what a sunburn felt like. While everyone talked about their experiences, I felt excluded and kept quiet. Over time, I got used to not being connected with other people.”

Abby found Outdoor Outreach during her freshman year at Monte Vista High School, and learned she could participate in outdoor activities for free. “I remember going camping for the first time at Joshua Tree. I didn’t know what to expect. I never thought that I would be able to go camping because my family was poor. With Outdoor Outreach, I had an opportunity to see and experience the beauty of where I lived – instead of seeing it through television shows like Planet Earth.”

“Outdoor Outreach has challenged me to explore my world… knowing that I can go farther every time I felt like I couldn’t take another step. They have taught me to be confident, and have helped me project my voice. I have become more comfortable around people, and found it’s easier to make friends. Now, when people talk about their summers, I join in. I can say I have been able to go camping and to the beach and felt the hot burning sand while running to jump in the water, and felt what it’s like to get a sunburn.”

Abby graduated from the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program in August 2018, and subsequently began her freshman year at Grossmont College.

Ivonne’s life has been colored by her undocumented status. She was constantly told no, that she had to stay indoors. “I would hear my friends making plans for the weekend knowing I couldn’t go along. I would also hear how excited they were to visit their families but I didn’t have that same privilege.”

Ivonne joined Outdoor Outreach during her junior year at King Chavez High School. “I remember my very first trip with Outdoor Outreach, to Mount San Jacinto. I was shy, and didn’t know anyone on the trip. On the ride up I told myself I wasn’t going to talk to anyone. That plan changed when we arrived and I saw snow for the first time. I was in shock. On our hike, I had so many layers on that it felt like I was wearing bubble wrap. For me it was an unbelievable experience that required stepping out of my comfort zone. Returning to the van that afternoon I realized I had talked to almost everyone. That felt good.”

Ivonne recently graduated from Outdoor Outreach’s Leadership Program with 12 other students in August 2018. “Outdoor Outreach gave me bravery, just like it has given me comfort to be myself and express myself, which I’ve never done before. During my time with Outdoor Outreach, I have experienced and learned so much. Outdoor Outreach is my happy place, and if it were up to me, I would never leave.”

Ivonne graduated from the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program in August 2018 before beginning her senior year at King Chavez High School.

Pedro grew up in Southeast San Diego and experienced gang violence for the first time when he was just 5 years old. “I tried to cope with trauma by ignoring it and not talking about it. But sooner or later, it would catch up to me. I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I would feel angry all the time and I was constantly overwhelmed with sadness.”

“As I got older, my only connection to the outdoors was through the school-issued computers, where I would watch the ocean on Surfline.com. Since I couldn’t get to the beach, I’d settle for Surfline.”

Pedro was introduced to Outdoor Outreach his freshman year at Monte Vista High School. He couldn’t believe that he would be able to go surfing in real life, for free.

“I remember waking up at 6 in the morning for my first Outdoor Outreach trip. I remember falling over while putting on a wetsuit and thinking “What if i have to pee?” I remember entering the water and being super confident and thinking “Pshh, I can do this no sweat”… and then being smacked by a crystal blue wave. I got back up and paddled out. On my 8th attempt, I finally caught a wave. That wave was amazing. It felt like being a part of something whole and great. Outdoor Outreach opened a door to new places and experiences I’d only dreamed of.”

Throughout high school, Pedro struggled with his mental health. The first time he tried to take his life was the summer after Junior year. “Between the new meds, bullying, and suspensions, Outdoor Outreach trips were the only times I felt relief. This program was my lifeline but school was ending and for the first time I was dreading the start of summer. Luckily I got into the Leadership Program and for 8-weeks I was able to surf, rock climb, camp and bond with a new loving family. These opportunities brought me the hope, support and strength I needed. It allowed me to escape the negativity, to heal and catch my breath. It taught me better ways of coping, and showed me that I could continue fighting for a better me.”

“Going forward, I know that the outdoors will continue to play a huge role in my healing. And a big part of that is becoming an instructor, so I can share with others, the experiences I’ve had. My dream is to become a paramedic. I’m really grateful for the opportunities that Outdoor Outreach has provided.”

Pedro graduated from the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program in August 2018 before beginning his final year of school at Monte Vista High School.

Growing up was tough for Zenab. She grew up influenced by two cultures that persistently clashed. “Not one culture is perfect or is right or wrong. It isn’t easy for a girl growing up no matter what culture you come from, but being Muslim and an Iraqi-American girl growing up in America was especially difficult.” Zenab was bullied and teased at school and felt unsafe in a place that should have been a safe-space. When she found out about Outdoor Outreach’s El Cajon Valley High School Adventure Club, and was finally able to convince her parents to let her participate, she joined the Adventure Club for her first ever climbing trip. “It was surreal when I finally made it to the top. I don’t know if it was the crippling fear of being too high or the numbness in my arms, but I felt like I can do so much. I finally had a chance, the possibility to do anything.” “Not only did that trip inspire me to do more for and in the outdoors, but it has also exposed my parents to a new idea of me doing things beyond their norm. It has opened so many doors for me. Now I have this passion to not only be involved with Outdoor Outreach but also spread it to those who are like me or have felt what I have felt.” “Coincidently, many newcomers from the middle east are now showing up to the same Adventure Club I was apart of. I want to be a role model to those hijabi girls that probably have parents who just don’t understand. Someone a participant can look up to, relate to, or just feel safe around. I want to be someone who opens that door of possibility to those girls who just want a chance.” Zenab graduated from the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program in August 2018, and subsequently began her freshman year at Grossmont College.

Refrain was in his sophomore year of high school, looking for his authentic self, when he found Outdoor Outreach’s Crawford High School Adventure Club. “I didn’t have a lot of friends, and I didn’t know who I was or who I should be. I became isolated, and I lost hope at making any friends at this new school of mine.”

“One day during lunch there was this guy handing out fliers for Outdoor Outreach’s Adventure Club. My cousins and I decided to check it out. The guy who handed out the fliers was named Dustin. In his presentation he talked about the seven core values of Outdoor Outreach. There was one core value that stood out to me more than the others: Authenticity.

After my first trip knowing that there would be others on Tuesdays got me through every week. As I went on more and more trips, I began to be myself not only in the club, but at school as well. As I observed the Outdoor Outreach staff on trips, I saw they were being authentic. And by being around them, I was able to be authentic as well.”

Refrain joined the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program in the summer of 2018, and says it was the best summer ever. “A big reason was the staff. Like I said earlier, everyone who works at Outdoor Outreach is authentic, and everybody loves their job. That really stuck with me. It’s hard work and through it all they stay positive. It really makes me appreciate all the work they do, for hundreds of participants like me every year.”

Refrain’s experience at Outdoor Outreach taught him that it was okay to be himself. “I needed a sign telling me that it’s okay to be yourself, it’s okay to be weird, it’s okay to be wild. I can tell you this: This Outdoor Outreach story has changed me for the better.”

Refrain is now the new student again, but this time it was his choice. He started his freshman year at UC-Irvine in the fall of 2018, and says he feels “good knowing that I can be my authentic self and dance all I want.”

Michell was born in Tijuana. When she was young, she was afraid to tell people where she came from. “Kids from my middle school would bully me and make fun of my accent, my family, and my culture. I had to deal with hurtful stereotypes and the language barrier separated me from my classmates and impacted my grades.”

“Things got better slowly, and I set clear goals for myself to work hard. Everyday I woke up super early to cross the border and go school. I was determined to participate in class every single day.”

Michell eventually found Outdoor Outreach during her junior year at King Chavez High School. This summer she joined 12 other Leadership Program participants on a backpacking trip through the Sierra. “I was the first one to wake up in the morning, and it was freezing cold. I couldn’t feel my toes. I was standing with the stunning view of Cottonwood Lakes in front of our camp. I was speechless. I had never imagined waking up to such a magnificent landscape. I started crying. It could have been the fact that I had just graduated from high school, or the fact I was there and alive to experience it.”

Michell’s favorite quote is, “Great things never came from comfort zones.”

“With Outdoor Outreach, I learned to step out of my comfort zone as I experienced almost every activity for my first time. There are no words to explain the power of exposure to incredible places to defeat the fear of trying new things.”

At Outdoor Outreach I found a place where I feel free to be myself. I know I still have much to learn. There are still days when I get discouraged. But now I have the courage to keep trying. I have a voice — in English and Spanish — and I will use it to help others speak up about how they feel.”

Michell graduated from the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program in August 2018, and subsequently began her freshman year at San Diego State University.