August 27, 2026 – San Diego, CA – As students across San Diego County head back to school, San Diego Foundation (SDF) has received a $250,000 grant from the REI Cooperative Action Fund to expand outdoor learning and recreation opportunities by helping local nonprofits overcome one of the primary barriers to participation: the cost of equipment.
The two-year grant will support the next phase of SDF’s Gear Acquisition Program (GAP), part of its broader Opening the Outdoors work to make outdoor experiences more accessible across the region. Since launching in 2023, GAP has provided 30 local nonprofits with more than 9,000 pieces of equipment and outdoor learning tools at no cost — from backpacks and boots to binoculars and science tools that help young people explore San Diego’s beaches, mountains and other outdoor spaces.
“Having the right equipment can be the difference between being able to participate in an outdoor experience and sitting it out,” said Pamela Gray Payton, vice president, chief impact and partnerships officer at San Diego Foundation. “REI’s support allows us to build on what we’ve learned and reach even more communities across the region.”
One example of the program’s impact can be seen in Chula Vista Elementary School District. With the new school year underway, gear provided through GAP supports Coastal Education Programs that reach more than 7,000 TK-8th grade students each year.
“It is incredibly meaningful to give all students access to the exact tools that scientists use in the field,” said Karen Quirós, a science resource teacher at Chula Vista Elementary School District. “Magnifiers have exposed details of the incredible world of invertebrates, and boots and binoculars have allowed students to feel like real geologists, archaeologists and ornithologists. These resources bring learning to life, spark curiosity and provide exceptional hands-on opportunities to explore.”
Media Assets: Photos of students participating in outdoor learning activities are available here. Chula Vista Elementary School District has media releases on file for all students pictured.
SDF partners with Outdoors Empowered Network (OEN) to help nonprofits identify and access equipment and outdoor learning tools at discounts generally ranging from 30% to 60%. The discounts help SDF’s investment go further and allow participating nonprofits to purchase additional equipment beyond what GAP provides.
“One of the things I’ve really valued about San Diego Foundation’s approach to increasing gear access across the region is the way they combine flexibility, trust and full resources,” said Seraph White, executive director of Outdoors Empowered Network. “They’ve allowed the program to grow based on what communities need, while ensuring partners have all the support to make it happen. That kind of responsive, community-centered approach is what helps create meaningful and lasting access to the outdoors.”
To learn more about how San Diego Foundation is helping connect young people and families with the outdoors, visit SDFoundation.org/Outdoors.
About San Diego Foundation
San Diego Foundation believes in just, equitable and resilient communities where every San Diegan can prosper, thrive and feel like they belong. We partner with donors, nonprofits and regional leaders to advance solutions that respond to community needs and strengthen San Diego. Since 1975, SDF has granted more than $2 billion to nonprofits to improve quality of life in San Diego County and beyond. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
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