Christopher Rutgers

Christopher Rutgers calls himself "the original case study" for his organization, Outdoor Outreach, a local nonprofit that motivates at-risk and underprivileged kids through activities like backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, snowboarding, and surfing.

"I came from a really abusive background," he explains.
...
Rutgers started Outdoor Outreach a decade ago. He liked the idea of programs like Outward Bound, but knew that the youth he wanted to help - kids at homeless shelters, in foster care, and at inner-city schools - couldn't afford fee-based adventures.

"Ten years and 5,000 kids later, no kid has ever paid for any of our programs," he says. The organization's core program is Outdoor Adventure Club. Rutgers' team goes into inner-city schools and works with the staff to determine who is falling through the cracks.
...
And throughout the time they're involved - Outdoor Outreach is for middle and high schoolers - they learn from positive, supportive role models, says Rutgers.
...
"People who are happy and successful have passion in their lives," says Rutgers.

Christopher Rutgers - Outdoor Outreach Non-Profit Director: Empowering Inner City Youth With Life Changing Outdoor Life Skills
...
Christopher Rutgers is the founder and executive director of Outdoor Outreach. As a competitive skier, whitewater river guide, expedition rock climber and avid surfer, Chris has spent most of his life developing a passion for the outdoors. It was this passion that helped Chris overcome his own at-risk childhood. In 1999, he founded Outdoor Outreach as a means to give at-risk and underprivileged youth the same life-changing opportunities. Drawing from his own personal experiences, Chris developed the Outdoor Outreach philosophies that have proven to be so successful working with at-risk and underprivileged youth.

As founder of Outdoor Outreach, Chris has been nationally recognized as an expert on programming for youth at-risk. He is frequently asked to speak at national conferences and symposiums, and to consult with government agencies, academic institutions and other nonprofit organizations. Chris has served as an advisor to the California Governor's Office, California State Parks and the National Park Service on developing programs for at-risk youth. In addition, Chris has won numerous local and national awards for his programs' successes. He is a past recipient of San Diego's KGTV Channel 10 Leadership Award and Newsweek magazine's "America's Best."

Chris Rutgers, the founder and head of Outdoor Outreach explains, "I founded Outdoor Outreach in 1999 and based it on one basic principle: Self-esteem cannot be taught.
...
Rutgers has taken his program into high schools with a 50-percent drop out rate and had 100% of the kids in his program not only graduate but go on to college as well.

Christopher Rutgers, Founder and Executive DirectorP.O. Box 232426.Encinitas, CA 92023760-479-2416

Christopher Rutgers is the founder and executive director of Outdoor Outreach. As a competitive skier, whitewater river guide, expedition rock climber and avid surfer, Chris has spent most of his life developing a passion for the outdoors. It was this passion that helped Chris overcome his own at-risk childhood. In 1999, he founded Outdoor Outreach as a means to give at-risk and underprivileged youth the same life changing opportunities. Drawing from his own personal experiences, Chris developed the Outdoor Outreach philosophies that have proven to be so successful working with at-risk and underprivileged youth.

As founder of Outdoor Outreach, Chris has been nationally recognized as an expert on programming for youth at-risk. He is frequently asked to speak at national conferences and symposiums, and to consult with government agencies, academic institutions and other nonprofit organizations. Chris has served as an advisor to the California Governor's Office, California State Parks and the National Park Service on developing programs for at-risk youth. In addition, Chris has won numerous local and national awards for his programs' successes. He is a past recipient of San Diego's KGTV Channel 10 Leadership Award and Newsweek magazine's "America's Best."

Christopher Rutgers is the founder and executive director of Outdoor Outreach. As a competitive skier, whitewater river guide, expedition rock climber and avid surfer, Chris has spent most of his life developing a passion for the outdoors. It was this passion that helped Chris overcome his own at-risk childhood. In 1999, he founded Outdoor Outreach as a means to give at-risk and underprivileged youth the same life-changing opportunities. Drawing from his own personal experiences, Chris developed the Outdoor Outreach philosophies that have proven to be so successful working with at-risk and underprivileged youth.

As founder of Outdoor Outreach, Chris has been nationally recognized as an expert on programming for youth at-risk. He is frequently asked to speak at national conferences and symposiums, and to consult with government agencies, academic institutions and other nonprofit organizations. Chris has served as an advisor to the California Governor's Office, California State Parks and the National Park Service on developing programs for at-risk youth. In addition, Chris has won numerous local and national awards for his programs' successes. He is a past recipient of San Diego's KGTV Channel 10 Leadership Award and Newsweek magazine's "America's Best."