Our Story

In 2011:  The adventure started when John and Scot first met, on Fiesta Island, at a local Jeep club event where shortly thereafter they both held seats on the club’s board of directors.  It was then, the seasonal San Diego area Jeep owners toy drive was established in coordination with NBC Channel 4 and the USS Midway Museum.

In 2013:  The San Diego Jeep Club, a Facebook group, was organized. Our purpose was to create a group that interacts with two (2) quintessential rules;

1. Be a good-spirited owner of a Jeep vehicle.
2. Be kind, courteous, and respectful of others while leaving your pride and ego at the trailhead. 

For six (6) years, we headed up an uncomplicated off-road community with qualified instructors who taught folks (free of charge) new to the sport of off-roading to safely enjoy their vehicles in the backcountry.  Collectively, we actively promoted a pay-it-forward philosophy.

In 2019:  Operation Overland was established with supporting military Veterans, First Responders, and their families in mind. In our previous years of encouraging others, we came to recognize that we could do far more good as a valid and verifiable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the State of California.

In 2020: With 10 years of service under our belt, our purpose continues to be to develop a safe, reliable, and respectful social atmosphere where we can help to encourage folks to go out of doors for dependable mental health while acknowledging their participation in such a way that substantiates newly recognized freedoms and self-determination coupled with a sense of adventure.

Here is a glimpse at our efforts in 2020…