THRIVE OUTSIDE San Diego

The Thrive Outside San Diego Community, led by The San Diego Foundation, is strengthening an existing network of nonprofit, philanthropic, academic and government partners such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, County of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department, Outdoor Outreach, YMCA of San Diego County and the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. This network is working together to increase meaningful outdoor engagement opportunities for children and families with the support of the Thrive Outside grant. San Diego’s network partners work not only to provide outdoor experiences for the community but also to expand outdoor amenities. The goal of this network is to make the outdoors part of the fabric of the lives of children and families in the San Diego region, especially South County where one in seven residents live in poverty and have limitations to accessing the outdoors. By highlighting outcomes associated with outdoor engagement, San Diego leverages Thrive Outside funding to raise additional funds to improve the quality of life for San Diego children and families.

Key Focus Areas:

Ocean and mountain activities, collaboration with San Diego County Behavioral Health Initiative, local and state advocacy to address equity barriers, youth and BIPOC leadership development, (e.g., Leaders for Outdoor Equity)

Backbone Organization:

The San Diego Foundation

Steering Committee Partners:

Outdoor Outreach, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, YMCA of San Diego, University of San Diego Nonprofit Institute, County of San Diego Parks and Recreation, and Parks California

Community Partners:

Earth Discovery Institute, Ocean Connectors, San Diego Audubon Society, Friends of San Diego Wildlife Southwest Wetlands Interpretive, Southwest Wetland Interpretive Association, California State Parks, San Diego Zoo Global, Living Coast Discovery Center, San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, Wildcoast, Casa Familiar, and Indigenous Regeneration