The Great Outdoors San Diego (GOSD) Core Group meets every month on the 1st Wednesday of the month to conduct GOSD business and share a meal together. Members and interested others are welcome to join. If you'll be joining us, please RSVP so we can reserve the right number of seats at the restaurant.

Location: Westfield UTC Mall 4545 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122 

Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm, Note: From 12pm-1pm official business will be conducted

Parking: Free in lot.

Contact: Tyler Roosden (651.497.1611)

Day Event - Mission Bay Kayaking/SUP Boarding

It’s become an annual summer tradition for us in GOSD to meet up at Aqua Adventures on Mission Bay and go kayaking and stand-up paddle (SUP) boarding as a group. Those who want to kayak can kayak. And those who want to SUP board can SUP board. Renting a kayak costs $20/hr for a single and $25/hr for a tandem. SUP board rental cost is $25/hr. Each person will pay for his/her rental there that morning. Lockers are available.

We'll be out on the water for at least an hour, stopping at one of the beaches out in the bay, then heading back. It’s always a great time, as we even see some wildlife on the way, including sea lions!

We'll meet at 10 AM at Aqua Adventures and rent our gear. We should be in the water by 10:30 AM. Please plan to bring clothes you can get wet in, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat if you like. You might also bring a dry change of clothes, if not a towel for the shower as well. Some of us may go grab lunch afterwards.

Event Coordinator: Tyler Roosden (651) 497 - 1611
Location: Aqua Adventures
1548 Quivira Way
San Diego, CA 92109

Please register via our website so we know to expect you.

We hope to see you there!

Mission Bay Bike Ride

Saturday, August 6th 

• 8:45 Meet up at  Mission Point Park
• 9:00 Start the bike ride
• 1:00 Finish the bike ride  

Event Lead: Steven Stowe (619-309-5674)

We will be meeting at Mission Point Park (2600 Bayside Ln, San Diego, CA 92109). I will be there at around 8:30 am, muster at 8:45am, and we will leave promptly at 9am. Bike ride is about 20 miles. Moderate to almost Expert Activity (from the mileage not the difficulty of the ride). It’s a Beautiful loop around the bay. Elevation is fairly flat with an increase maybe 100 ft in a few places across some bridges.  Once we depart Mission Point Park we will travel around the east side of Mission bay heading east and then north.  Then we will enter Fiesta Island and loop around the island.  Once we exit fiesta island we will continue north around mission bay, this will take us to the west side of mission bay (I know, obviously LOL).  We will continue south on Mission bay and end up back at Mission Point Park.  For those who done this bike ride last time, it’s the same route but I am adding Fiesta Island to the map and we are going the opposite way this time.  So, expect more mileage.  Fiesta Island isn’t as small as it seems.

We’ll be making plenty of stops and water breaks, I calculate about 5 restroom stops, at least 2 water breaks but no limit to the amount of breaks the group needs, and 4 different stops for group pictures with beautiful backgrounds of nature

What to bring: 

Please bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, extra air pump for your tires, any snack/s you may want, any medications you may need, and weather-appropriate clothing. 

Hope you can join us!

GOSD Day Event - Snorkeling at La Jolla Shores

Event Coordinator: Matthew Schreiner

Come join us for some snorkeling, sharks, and socializing at La Jolla Shores! We've chosen August since that's when the Leopard Sharks typically come close to shore.

We'll meet at Kellogg Park at 10:00 and be in the water by about 10:30. After snorkeling amongst the wildlife, those of us who are interested will grab lunch nearby afterwards.

Please bring your snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins and a light wet suit if you tend to feel cold quickly), sunblock, some water, any snacks you may need for the morning, a towel, and a dry change of clothes. (Leave your valuables in your car, as any gear left at the park will likely be unattended while we’re in the water.)

Parking can be a challenge. So please plan to allow yourself plenty of time for that – and carpool if possible.

Fun facts about Leopard Sharks:

La Jolla’s leopard sharks are almost all female, most of which are pregnant. Their gestation period is 10-11 months. They bear live young, and a litter will typically consist of 15-20 babies.

They congregate at La Jolla Shores because of its calm, warm, shallow waters—an ideal natural incubator—and abundant food in the sand, rocky reefs and kelp forest of the protected preserve, including clams, crabs, shrimp, squid, fish and fish eggs. The sharks’ distinctive color pattern, resembling leopard spots, is so varied that they can be used to identify individuals, akin to fingerprints. Leopard sharks live along the Pacific coast of North America from Washington to Mazatlán, Mexico, including the Gulf of California.

They arrive at La Jolla’s shores as early as June and as late as December, peaking in August and September.

Leopard sharks have small mouths and teeth, perfect for feedings on crustaceans and bony fish. Adults can grow up to six feet in length, but the average size is four to five feet.

      OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE

You may attend either one or both.

DAY HIKE LEADER - SECTION I

                       8am - 12 pm

Be a Hike Leader!  Not just someone who knows the way, but someone who applies safety, best practices, fun, and local knowledge to make a successful outing. In addition to the course outline we will discuss any issues with past hikes and plan for future hikes. We will review basic hike leader procedures and techniques and latest technology and information.  Completing this course will provide participants with Day Hike Leader Certification. Also a good refresher for hike leaders.

Hike Leader Syllabus

Prerequisites: Great Outdoors member (click here to join). The course is  for anyone interested in becoming a hiker leader, learning more about leading effective hikes, or becoming a more confident and capable hiker.

This Hike Leader Certification course is for hikers who are interested in learning new skills as well as experienced hike leaders  who are looking to update or refresh their outdoor leadership skills. It is suitable for all ranges of hiker abilities, from novice up to very experienced hikers.

Objectives: Introduce participants to the skills, knowledge and attitudes of a trained hike leader, including appropriate risk management for day hikes. Present skills for leading a safe, environmentally responsible and enjoyable hike.

Content/Topics Covered:  Hike planning, description, screening participants, trail group management, emergency management, medical issues on the trail, map reading and navigation, outdoor techniques, environmental protection, and problem solving techniques and scenarios.

Course Format: The training includes online instruction with group discussion and problem solving  applications and trail-based scenarios.

Pre-Course Assignment:  Review training manuals and video:

Link to Training Resources: Click Here

How to Lead a Hike: Video: Click Here

Course Length/Hours: 4 hours.

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• Scott Connelly, Chair Outdoor Experience: email click here

Each year GO holds an annual conference/campout for all members.

The dates are now set - Oct 14-16.  Our OCLB Chapter is now planning the event.  Please check back later for details

For further information, contact:

Lance via email at: conferencechair@greatoutdoors.org