About Off We Grow

Growing Through Adventure

Off We Grow is a youth mentoring program built around a simple idea: kids grow when they have caring people in their corner and opportunities to experience more of the world around them.

We bring young people together with screened adult mentors and volunteers through outdoor activities and shared experiences. That might mean fishing at a local lake, walking a trail, exploring a park, learning an outdoor skill, joining a group adventure, or trying something completely new.

The goal isn't to turn every child into an outdoor expert. It's to give young people opportunities to build confidence, develop new interests and skills, form positive relationships, and spend more of childhood experiencing the world beyond a screen.

We want to give kids more reasons to look up.

What Does Mentoring Look Like?

Mentoring with Off We Grow isn't about pairing one adult with one child.

It's about connection, encouragement, and shared experiences.

Young people participate in outdoor activities alongside screened mentors, volunteers, and other kids. Activities might include fishing, hiking, visiting parks, exploring nature, camping, learning outdoor skills, conservation activities, or participating in Off We Grow adventures and events.

There isn't just one way for an adult to be involved. Some mentors and volunteers may participate regularly and build relationships with young people through experiences over time. Others may share a particular skill, hobby, or outdoor interest. An experienced angler might help kids learn to fish. Someone who loves hiking might help lead a trail day. A camper, paddler, birder, conservationist, or other outdoor enthusiast may have something entirely different to share.

Adults do not need to be expert anglers, campers, hikers, or outdoorspeople to get involved. You don't have to know everything. Sometimes learning something new alongside young people is part of the adventure.

What matters most is being a safe, dependable, encouraging adult who is willing to show up, share an experience, and help young people discover what's possible.

You bring the time and encouragement. We'll help with the rest.

What Are Parents Signing Their Child Up For?

Parents and guardians are giving their child the opportunity to participate in group outdoor experiences surrounded by positive, encouraging adults and other young people.

Activities may include fishing, hiking, exploring parks and nature, camping, learning outdoor skills, conservation activities, group adventures, and opportunities to try something completely new.

We want to learn about each young person's personality, interests, needs, and comfort level so we can create experiences where they feel welcome, supported, and encouraged to participate at their own pace.

Outdoor experience is not required. A child doesn't need to already know how to fish, camp, hike, paddle, or explore the outdoors. They don't need to own fishing equipment, camping gear, hiking equipment, or other outdoor supplies just to participate.

The purpose is to give young people access to experiences they may not otherwise have while surrounding them with positive adults who can encourage them, teach them, share their interests, and help them discover new ones.

Parents and guardians remain an important part of the process and will receive information about activities, expectations, and safety procedures before their child participates.

Safety Comes First

Trust matters—especially when adults are working with young people.

Prospective mentors and volunteers complete an application, screening process, references, and required background checks before being approved to participate. They also receive program expectations and guidance regarding appropriate boundaries, communication, activities, and youth safety.

Parents and guardians provide permission for their child's participation and receive information about program expectations and safety procedures.

Activities are planned with the safety and comfort of participating young people in mind. Participation should feel safe, welcoming, and positive for young people, their families, mentors, and volunteers.

Who Is Off We Grow For?

Off We Grow is for young people who could benefit from more connection, more encouragement, more time outside, and more opportunities to experience something new.

A child does not need to be struggling, come from a particular background, or have a diagnosis to participate. They don't need to already love the outdoors, either.

Some kids may come because they want to learn how to fish. Others may want to hike, camp, explore, learn new skills, meet new people, or simply get out and do more.

Curiosity is enough.

The adults who make these experiences possible don't have to fit one particular mold either. We're looking for responsible people who care about young people, can provide a safe and positive example, and are willing to share some of their time, encouragement, interests, or outdoor knowledge.

You don't have to commit every weekend. You don't have to know how to do everything. You don't even have to consider yourself an "outdoorsperson."

If there's something you enjoy doing outside, there may be a kid who's never had the opportunity to try it.

Why the Outdoors?

Today's young people are growing up with screens woven into nearly every part of daily life. Technology has its place—but so do muddy shoes, fishing poles, trails, fresh air, face-to-face conversations, and the feeling of accomplishing something you weren't sure you could do.

Outdoor experiences provide opportunities for movement, exploration, problem-solving, confidence-building, connection, and simply being present.

They also give young people the chance to discover something they may carry with them for years. One child may discover fishing. Another may love hiking, camping, wildlife, paddling, conservation, or simply spending time outside with people who encourage them.

At Off We Grow, the goal isn't just less screen time.

It's more childhood.

More experiences.
More connection.
More confidence.
More adventure.
More reasons to look up.

Off We Grow

Growing Through Adventure.

Whether you're a parent looking for new opportunities for your child, an adult with time or an outdoor interest to share, or someone who simply believes kids deserve more opportunities to get outside, there's a place for you here.

Ready to get started?