About Side Missions

Side Missions are departures from an official trip itinerary.

When your Trip Host adds what seems to be a completely spontaneous and unexpected detour to go play inside a cave or climbing a tree or a boulder or jumping in a lake or river.

Side Missions are based on the concept of playing outdoors like swinging from things, climbing things, jumping from things, but for everyone. It's a cue for Outerthere fam to take chances and explore. 

For most of human history, humans have played for fun and survival all the way through old age. Today, we know playing like this is important for kids to develop essential skills. But then we're told that we have to stop playing when we "grow up". That we have to stop learning. Stop having fun.⁠

It seemed that only a few of us get to play as often and as hard as we want.⁠ Participating in a side missions allows you - allows everyone! - to reclaim that fun in an outdoor setting with experienced trip hosts.

So now that you get the general idea, please be aware that sometimes, we may be having too much fun and end up getting hurt when we play.

Consequently, Side Missions are NOT covered by Outerthere's or your trip host's insurance and as a result, by participating in a side mission, you acknowledge that it is AT YOUR OWN RISK and assume full responsibility for your actions.

That said, for everyone’s safety, your Trip Hosts** will always check out a Side Mission first and if they give the "All-Clear", the rest of the group can proceed. You will be reminded of how Side Missions work during every trip’s safety briefing and before every side mission opportunity.

Non-compliance to safety protocols as outlined in your trip's safety briefing or if your Trip Host determines any aspect of a Side Mission is unsafe for any reason means that the entire Side Mission will be immediately stopped.

For trips specifically labeled "Side Mission", those trips have been scouted by the Adventure Scouting Agency (ASA) for safety. 

*DISCLAIMER: Don't go exploring caves, climbing things, jumping off things or checking out abandoned structures alone, especially if you're claustrophobic (which you probably don't know yet if you haven’t gone caving before), or if you get anxious in tight spaces or high places, or if you’re are scared of the dark, or bugs, don't like being dirty, are generally a klutz with no coordination, don't like the cold, don't like being confined, or don't like people too close to you.

**Credits: Trip Host CJ came up with the term after seeing how Outerthere Founder Al approached obstacles and detours on hikes.