Outdoor Outreach will Partner with Rady Children’s Hospital in Support of Local Youth Experiencing Mental Health Challenges
The unique, collaborative effort will offer teens a program centered on nature-based experiences designed to help them overcome their challenges outside of the traditional therapy setting.
Outdoor Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to serving disadvantaged youth through transformative year-round, trauma-informed outdoor recreation programs – has entered into a unique partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego to serve young men and women experiencing mental and behavioral health needs.
The 4-month collaboration will engage 24 youth (ages 14-17) from Rady Children’s mental health and medical outpatient facilities in nature-based experiences designed to increase their resiliency outside of the traditional therapy setting.
Youth facing mental health challenges often do not respond well to common practices like one-on-one therapy sessions. Through this program, participating youth will be accompanied by a licensed clinical social worker as they experience kayaking trips, rock-climbing excursions, team building activities, yoga and mindfulness exercises.
As part of the program, a group of twelve young men and women will be led in a cave exploration experience at La Jolla Cove where they will explore the caves, learn about environmental issues and practice mindfulness throughout their experience.
In addition to its dedication to San Diego area youth – as a member of the Parks Now coalition, Outdoor Outreach has worked alongside organizations across the state to shape funding policies that ensure that urban, low-income youth has access to the coast and programs that empower young women and men of all backgrounds.
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is a 524-bed pediatric care facility providing the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, southern Riverside and Imperial counties. Rady Children’s is the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric healthcare and is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center.
Outdoor Outreach is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides adventure-based youth development programs serving 1,700 vulnerable and at-risk youth each year. Through those programs, we’re helping youth build resilience in the face of challenges, and confidence in their power to make a difference.