Since 2001, Venture Outdoors has been connecting the Western PA community to the outdoors through guided hikes, bike rides, kayaking, and a variety of other meaningful outdoor experiences, nearing 1 million experiences in total. With a mission to remove barriers and create access to the outdoors, the organization offers specialized affinity training and trips for the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Older Adult, Accessibility, Size Inclusive, as well as Women/Underrepresented gender communities. We also provide low and no cost outdoor recreation and environmental education programming to under-resourced schools and youth-serving community centers in the Pittsburgh region.

In addition to this important work, we operate two paddlesport rental hubs, connecting folks to the unique joy of paddling on the water in Western PA: one on the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh, and one at the historic boathouse at North Park Lake, about 30 minutes outside of Pittsburgh. 

Yearly, the organization serves over 25,000 individuals through our youth programming, community outings, and paddlesport hubs.