Adventure Out

What Adventure Out does

Adventure Out LLC is a privately held, bootstrapped outdoor adventure school founded in 2004 by Cliff Hodges in Santa Cruz, California. The company delivers guided instruction and experiences across six activity verticals — surfing, rock climbing, wilderness survival, mountain biking, backpacking, and wilderness medical training — serving individual beginners through advanced enthusiasts, families, school and youth groups, corporate teams, and nonprofit organizations across Northern California. Teaching operations span at least six physical locations including Pacifica, Santa Cruz, Boulder Creek, Fairfax/Marin, Saratoga/Castle Rock, and Pinnacles National Park, with backpacking expeditions extending into the Sierra Nevada, Lost Coast, and Southern California deserts. The company is the only NSSIA (National Surf School & Instructor Association) accredited surf school in the San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Bay areas and holds city-issued surf school licenses in Pacifica and Santa Cruz.

The product portfolio is built around instructor-led, in-person classes rather than software. Core offerings include 1-day and 2-day surf clinics ($129-$235), beginner rock climbing sessions ($129), wilderness survival clinics ($145), mountain biking I & II, multi-day backpacking trips, and certified Wilderness First Responder (80 hours) and Wilderness First Aid (20 hours) courses. Supporting products include private lessons, gift certificates (sold through a Shopify storefront), the Express Pass discount card ($69 for 18 months, $40 for students) with a retail partner discount network, and a Guide Training & Affiliation Program ($795 per trainee, $250-$750/year affiliate license fees) that licenses the Adventure Out brand and operating playbook to outdoor schools nationally. Technology usage is limited to a website booking and registration system, Shopify ecommerce for gift certificates, and standard social media channels; there is no proprietary platform, mobile app, or AI/ML capability disclosed.

The business model is direct-to-consumer unit pricing on classes plus supplemental recurring-revenue and licensing lines. Go-to-market is hybrid: individual bookings flow through the company website and phone reservations, corporate and private groups are sold direct, and a nationwide affiliate channel extends brand reach. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company donates 1% of gross revenues to environmental nonprofits, a practice in place since founding and originally registered through 1% for the Planet. Headcount is in the 1-10 band, and the company is actively hiring for Summer 2026 surf and climbing instructor positions, indicating ongoing operational scaling within its existing footprint rather than a step-change expansion.

Name

Adventure Out

Legal name

Adventure Out LLC

Website

https://adventureout.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Adventure Out is a bootstrapped California outdoor school founded in 2004 that delivers surf lessons, rock climbing, wilderness survival, mountain biking, backpacking trips, and wilderness medical training to individuals, corporate groups, and youth programs across Northern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Outdoor Training & Team-Building Programs (Experiential Learning) (THAAAOAE), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI), Climbing & Mountaineering Gyms/Guides (Indoor, Outdoor, Via Ferrata) (THAAAKAG)

Keywords

• Outdoor adventure education
• Surf instruction
• Wilderness survival training
• Rock climbing classes
• Corporate team building

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Outdoor Activity Classes and Lessons: Revenue generated from teaching outdoor adventure classes including surf lessons, rock climbing, wilderness survival, mountain biking, and backpacking. Classes are offered as 1-day, 2-day, and multi-day programs with per-person pricing.
2. Private Instruction: Private lessons and custom adventure programs for individuals and groups. Pricing varies by group size with discounts for larger groups. Custom corporate retreats and team-building programs also offered.
3. Express Pass Discount Card: Discount membership card offering $10-$30 off all clinics and trips, plus 5-20% discounts at partner retail stores. Card valid for 18 months. Priced at $69 (or $40 for full-time students).
4. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for any Adventure Out program (except Wilderness Medical trainings). Never expire and can be used for any activity offered. Purchased through online Shopify system.
5. Guide Training and Certification: Guide/Instructor training and certification program teaching outdoor education methodologies and Adventure Out business model. Course cost is $795 per person. Includes business practices and adventure program operation.
6. Affiliate Licensing: Outdoor programs can license the Adventure Out brand through an annual affiliation fee ($250/year for founding partners, $750/year for new affiliates after first 30). Affiliates receive marketing support, client referrals, and business consulting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Adventure Out is an outdoor adventure education school founded in 2004 and based in Santa Cruz, California, teaching surf lessons, rock climbing, wilderness survival, mountain biking, backpacking, and wilderness medical certification courses to individuals and corporate groups. The school holds NSSIA accreditation and operates multiple locations across California.

Product overview

Adventure Out is California's premiere outdoor school and guide service offering a comprehensive portfolio of outdoor adventure activities and educational programs. The core offerings include surf lessons and camps, rock climbing instruction, wilderness survival training, mountain biking coaching, backpacking expeditions, and wilderness medical certifications. The company operates as a single unified service brand with various activity-specific programs supplemented by add-on products including the Express Pass discount card, gift certificates, and a Guide Training & Affiliation Program. All activities are offered as public group classes, private instruction, or corporate/group programs, with locations spanning Pacifica, Santa Cruz, Marin County, and broader California wilderness areas. Founded in 2004, the company holds NSSIA accreditation as a surf school and maintains city licensing in Pacifica and Santa Cruz.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surf Lessons
• Rock Climbing Classes
• Wilderness Survival Training
• Mountain Biking Courses
• Backpacking Trips
• Wilderness Medical Training
• Corporate Team Building Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Perfect safety record since founding in 2004
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 1% for the PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Adventure Out was a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of all gross revenues to environmental nonprofits. While no longer an official member (to avoid membership fees), they continue the practice of donating 1% of gross revenues to environmental conservation efforts.
• BillabongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Billabong Surf Camps in San Francisco Bay Area at Pacifica State Beach. Experience surfing the Billabong way with quality instruction, dynamic curriculum, safety-first attitude, and Billabong gear and giveaways. Camps include water safety, ocean science, environmental awareness, surf etiquette, and cultural heritage education.
• Elemental Awareness FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization founded by Mike Kershner and Todd Larsen teaching primitive survival skills to skateboarders at Element YMCA Skateboard camp. Adventure Out has partnered for community outreach and career day programs.
• Leadership ExcellenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization based in Oakland, CA focused on grassroots community organizing and leadership skills for African American children and youth. Adventure Out conducted private Wilderness Skills & Survival Clinics for their groups.
• LyftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRide-sharing partnership providing new users with ride credits ($5-$25 depending on monthly promotions) towards their first ride to class locations. Adventure Out promotes Lyft as transportation option for students without vehicles.
• Environmental Nonprofits (Various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure Out donates 1% of gross revenues to environmental nonprofits and has donated tens-of-thousands of dollars to conservation efforts since 2004. Partner organizations include Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and other environmental groups.
• Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit environmental organization dedicated to protection and enjoyment of world's oceans, waves and beaches. Adventure Out supports and promotes Surfrider Foundation to customers.
• Express Pass Discount PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of retail partners offering 5-20% discounts to Express Pass holders including: Sports Basement, Summit Bicycles (Burlingame, Los Gatos, San Rafael), Therapeia Spa/Yoga (San Francisco), See Jane Run (San Francisco, Oakland), Paradise Surf Shop (Santa Cruz), Cycle Sports, Fleet Feet, SFO Snowboarding, Avenue Cyclery (San Francisco), ClimbingShoes.com, Flight 001, City Beach Rock Gym (Fremont, Santa Clara).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: Outward Bound is the largest national outdoor experiential education nonprofit, offering multi-day backpacking, climbing, water, and survival expeditions across US regions. It overlaps with Adventure Out's activity mix and target learner segments but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• REI Co-op / REI Outdoor School: REI Co-op operates REI Outdoor School, providing hiking, climbing, and backcountry skills classes, particularly in California and the Pacific Northwest. Its broader instructional catalog competes with Adventure Out's beginner-level outdoor classes while leveraging REI's national retail footprint.

Direct peers

• Surf Diva: Surf Diva is a long-established Southern California surf school offering women's lessons and surf camps. Its beginner surf instruction model and camp programming directly overlap with Adventure Out's beginner and private surf lessons in Pacifica and Santa Cruz.
• Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS): BOSS is one of the longest-running wilderness survival and primitive skills schools in the US. Its multi-day survival courses compete directly with Adventure Out's Wilderness Skills & Survival Clinic in the California market.
• Trackers Earth: Trackers Earth offers youth and adult wilderness survival, tracking, and nature-skills programs in the Pacific Northwest. Its primitive-skills and survival curriculum directly aligns with Adventure Out's Wilderness Skills & Survival Clinic offering.
• Adventure Treks: Adventure Treks runs multi-sport youth adventure travel programs (backpacking, climbing, biking, surfing) for teens. It directly compares to Adventure Out's youth and family segment offerings and group adventure trips in California.
• Adventures in Good Company: Adventures in Good Company runs small-group outdoor adventure trips (hiking, backpacking, paddling) for women across the US. Its experiential, group-based programming and beginner-friendly positioning compare to Adventure Out's corporate and private group outdoor programs.
• Environmental Traveling Companions: Environmental Traveling Companions runs Northern California outdoor adventure and wilderness education programs for diverse and underserved communities. Its hiking, backpacking, and wilderness programming overlaps with Adventure Out's Bay Area nonprofit and community partnerships.
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): NOLS is the leading US wilderness education and leadership school, offering multi-day backpacking, climbing, and primitive-skills programs. Its curriculum, credentialing, and target learners directly overlap with Adventure Out's wilderness survival, climbing, and backpacking portfolio.
• Movement Climbing (formerly Earth Treks): Movement Climbing operates indoor and outdoor climbing facilities and outdoor rock climbing instruction programs across multiple US markets. Its outdoor single-pitch climbing classes directly overlap with Adventure Out's Rock Climbing I program at Castle Rock State Park and Pinnacles National Park.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/adventureout
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adventure-out-llc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adventure Out