Leadership Program Application: Summer 2025 

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Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program


Outdoor Outreach

Leadership Program Application




Dear Applicant,


Please read through all of the following information before applying:


Thank you for your interest in the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program for summer 2025. The Leadership Program is an 8-week training program in which young adults, ages 16 - 21, can learn and develop the skills needed to become leaders and advocates within the Outdoor Industry as well as within their own communities.


Young adults, ages 16-21 years-old, living in or near San Diego, CA are eligible to apply for this program.



There is no cost for participants to attend this program. The Leadership Program is a paid training experience. Upon completion of the program, graduates have the opportunity to make

up to $1,500 in stipends.

Housing is not provided for this program.

The application process can be competitive.
Participants are expected to transport themselves to Outdoor Outreach Offices at 3980 Sherman Street, San Diego Ca

Program Details 

The 2025 Summer Leadership Program will run from June 23 - August 15 2025 (dates subject to change).


What is the Leadership Program?  


The summer Leadership Program is an 8-week paid training experience for young adults (ages 16 - 21) living in or around San Diego. Through weekly workshops and outdoor training experiences, participants learn and develop the skills needed to become leaders within the outdoor industry as well as within their own communities.   This program has a focus on workforce development, civic engagement, and outdoor industry skills. Participants who are accepted into the program have the opportunity to make $1,500 in stipends upon completion of the program.


What does it mean to be a Leadership Program Participant?


Leadership program participants meet monday through friday and are held to the expectations of a professional in the outdoor industry. Participants will be actively working towards learning and developing outdoor industry, advocacy, and workforce skills. Participants are expected to demonstrate sound risk management, and mindful decision making. Participants are expected to arrive to meetings on time, communicate in a timely and effective manner, respect fellow students and staff, model professionalism, and further the vision and mission of Outdoor Outreach through active participation.


Participants safely learn how to instruct a range of outdoor recreation activities in a variety of parks, beaches, and open space areas including, but not limited to:

    • Rock Climbing

    • Mountain Biking

    • Environmental Stewardship

    • Kayaking

    • Camping

    • Snorkeling

    • Hiking

    • Backpacking




  • Mission Trails Regional Park

  • Anza Borrego State Park

  • Mount Laguna Recreation Area

  • Cabrillo National Monument

  • Los Penasquitos Canyon

  • Coronado Tidelands Park

  • San Diego National Wildlife Refuge


    Through participation in the Outdoor Outreach Leadership Program, we hope participants experience:


    • Increased confidence and ability to facilitate outdoor adventures for youth in a safe and fun manner

    • Continued involvement and/or employment as an outdoor leader for Outdoor Outreach or similar organizations.

    • Increased perception of one’s ability to influence public policy and socio-economic barriers to accessing the outdoors.

    • Increased ability and willingness to communicate with decision makers and advocate the value

    • and necessity of protecting outdoor spaces and sensitive ecosystems.

    • Increased self-confidence, self efficacy, self awareness, and positive self perception

    • Increased levels of professionalism and workforce skills

    • Increased ability to seek and qualify for employment opportunities

    • Motivation to become leaders within communities and enact positive changes



    What is your Commitment to Outdoor Outreach and the Leadership Program?


    An open mind towards the activities. We will be pushing our mental and physical barriers by experiencing new, and sometimes challenging, experiences.

    Respectful , inclusive, and professional manners towards your peers and staff members.  

    Completion of the Leadership Program:  
    This commitment includes attending and participating in workshops, field-based outings, and field-based overnight programs.  This program is designed for participants to gain experience as a field instructors as well as experience with essential workforce skills. Participants must attend and participate in 75% of program outings and meetings in order to graduate.  

    Program Schedule
     Activities and lessons will be held 5 days per week for 8 weeks from June 23, 2025 - August 15, 2025.  Lessons and outings will not exceed 8 hrs daily, exceptions to this schedule include one overnight camping trips and a five day backpacking trip.


    Program Dates:  June 23 2025 - August 15, 2025

    Weekly Schedule: 5 days per week, monday through friday 

    Daily Hours: 5 - 8 hrs. per program day, excluding overnight trips 

    Total Program Hours: 300+

     Surfing Overnight: July 17 - 18 

    Backpacking Overnight: July 28 - August 1st 

    Outdoor Recreation Trainings: 

    • Team Building 

    • Kayaking

    • Surfing

    • Paddle Boarding

    • Rock Climbing 

    • Hiking 

    • Backpacking

    • Camping  

    • Mountain Biking 

    • Environmental Stewardship


    Educational Workshops: 

    • Workforce Development 

    • Resume Building and Interviewing

    • Financial literacy 

    • Leadership Styles 

    • Group Facilitation

    • Policy Advocacy

    • Planning and Logistics

    • Bike Maintenance

    • Camp Cooking

    • Backpacking and outdoor industry skills

    • Local ecology and environmental stewardship

    Stipend 


    Participants of the Leadership Program are eligible to earn up to $1,500 in stipends. 

    Stipends are distributed in increments throughout the program.  The stipend amount is dependent on each participants attendance.

    Participants must have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or a valid Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to be able to receive stipend checks from Outdoor Outreach.

    Participants with no valid SSN or ITIN can still participate in the program. 

    Status of SSN or ITIN does not impact a participants acceptance into the program.
    Application 


    Leadership Program Application


    Thank you for your interest in the Leadership Program.  Please submit this application to Outdoor Outreach no later than April 21, 2025 at 11:59 pm to be considered for the Summer 2025 program.  If you have any questions feel free to email or call the Leadership Program Coordinator: 


    Santos Plaza

    Email: santos.plaza@outdooroutreach.org  Phone: (619) 771-7519













    Rate the following activities (below) on a range of 0-3, based on your comfort level when doing that activity. Experience in program activities is not necessary for acceptance into the program. 0 = Not Comfortable at all 1 = A Little Uncomfortable 2 = Comfortable 3 = Very Comfortable






    Please take the time to carefully answer the following questions












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