Trail · Water · Wheels · Camp · Climb · Overland
Six entry points into the outdoors — each built to interrupt old patterns and create memories that last.
Structured.
Purpose-driven.
Free.
Every Outside the City program runs on the same recipe: a clear objective, a skilled guide, supportive volunteers, real gear, and zero cost to the participant. We don't run drop-in classes. We run programs.
Trail.
Multi-mile guided hikes in coastal canyons, foothill preserves, and high-desert ridges. For many participants, the first real hike of their lives.
ACTIVITIES
- Day hikes (3–10 mi)
- Trail running clinics
- Multi-day treks
- Trail crew & service days
FIELD NOTE — THE FIRST TIME
Most participants take their first real hike with OTC. We supply boots, packs, water, and a guide whose only job is helping them finish strong.
Water.
Paddleboarding, surfing, outrigging, sailing, and open-water swims — the Pacific as classroom, mentor, and reset button.
ACTIVITIES
- Paddleboarding & surfing
- Sailing & outrigging
- Open-water swims
- Jet ski & kite-surf days
FIELD NOTE — THE FIRST TIME
The ocean teaches what no classroom can — humility, focus, and the magic of falling in and getting up again. Certified guides on every water program.
Wheels.
From parking-lot skills clinics to single-track descents across SoCal trail systems — confidence, balance, and momentum.
ACTIVITIES
- Bike skills clinics
- Single-track adventures
- Beach cruise outings
- Maintenance & ownership days
FIELD NOTE — THE FIRST TIME
Many of our riders had never been on a real bike. We start with skills in a parking lot and end with single-track descents.
Camp.
First nights under real stars. Fire-cooked meals, tent setups, and desert sunrise wakeups — often a participant's first.
ACTIVITIES
- Overnight camping
- Desert backpacking
- Cooking & fire skills
- Night-sky retreats
FIELD NOTE — THE FIRST TIME
A first night outdoors can feel unfamiliar. Our leaders set up camp alongside participants and teach every skill along the way. We bring the gear; participants bring themselves.
Climb.
From bouldering walls to learning to trust the rope, the belayer, and yourself, one move at a time.
ACTIVITIES
- Indoor bouldering
- Top-rope climbing
- Belay skills
- Open climb days
FIELD NOTE — THE FIRST TIME
The first climb usually ends a few feet off the ground — and that's the point. Every move higher is a choice to trust the rope, the belayer, and yourself.
Overland.
Long days on gravel roads and backcountry routes, far from pavement and cell signal — where getting there is the whole adventure.
ACTIVITIES
- Backcountry road trips
- Map & route planning
- Vehicle checks & trail basics
- Camp-to-camp travel
FIELD NOTE — THE FIRST TIME
For many participants, it's the first time being far enough from a city to lose cell signal. Out there, reading the map, checking the vehicle, and trusting the crew become real skills.
How to get involved
Refer a Participant
Partner agencies and community groups can refer young adults to our programs.
Get In Touch →Volunteer
We need guides, mentors, drivers, lifeguards, and people who love showing up.
Volunteer →Sponsor a Trip
Underwrite a single trip or an entire season as an individual or company.
Partner With Us →