OAK Week 2021 is February 16 – 18! Although we can’t be together in DC this year, we’re looking forward to connecting with OAK members, prospective members and partners over an exciting week of virtual sessions, workshops and networking events.
About OAK Week
OAK Week, which includes OAK’s Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day, serves as a dynamic, energizing venue for OAK members and partners to connect and network as well as collaborate on and invest in OAK campaigns. This year, OAK’s Annual Meeting will be held across two days, spaced to accommodate virtual conference engagement, and will include networking opportunities. The final day will be a federal advocacy day and training, during which OAK members will make our collective voices heard in the (virtual) halls of Congress.
Who Attends OAK Week?
OAK Week is primarily for OAK members and partners, but we also welcome representatives of organizations interested in joining OAK! OAK members will receive invitations to OAK Week activities through emails and the shared calendar. If you’re interested in joining us for our virtual OAK Week 2021, please reach out to Jayni Rasmussen, OAK Senior Campaign Representative, at jayni.rasmussen@sierraclub.org.
If you’re an OAK supporter and you’re interested in lifting up OAK’s mission during OAK Week 2021, be sure to follow along via social media! Scroll down for more details.
What’s Going on at OAK Week 2021?
- OAK’s 2021 Biden and Harris Transition Recommendations: Join us as we present OAK’s final recommendations for the Biden/Harris Administration and weigh in on our federal policy priorities for 2021.
- #EveryKidOutdoors – Advancing OAK’s Mission to Connect Children, Youth and Families to the Outdoors: Share your input on how to continue the momentum on OAK’s federal policy successes, including our victories around Every Kid Outdoors, over the past decade, by advancing our federal, state, and local policy work and campaigns such as Every Kid Outdoors in State Parks campaign.
- Discussion with Dr. Carolyn Finney: Dr. Carolyn Finney is a storyteller, author and cultural geographer working to increase awareness of how privilege shapes who gets to speak to environmental issues and determine policy and action. Join us for a conversation with Dr. Finney on racial equity and connecting children, youth and families to the outdoors.
- Networking Reception: Join us for a networking reception, kicked off by some of our incredible youth advocates – Robbie Bond of Kids Speak for Parks, Junior Ranger Tigran Nahabedian, and Lily Kay, Every Kid Outdoors in State Parks champion in Texas – with breakout groups to meet and connect with OAK members and partners.
- OAK Racial Equity Workshop: This workshop is first in a series of courageous conversations to examine the ways in which OAK operates and is structured that may reinforce characteristics of white supremacy culture; and identify ways to decenter whiteness and move towards anti-racist policies, practices, and behaviors. This workshop will focus on developing alignment and a shared understanding across OAK members and partners on how white supremacy culture characteristics and traits show up in our day-to-day interactions.
- Workshop: Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook: OAK is in its third year participating in an exciting partnership coordinated by the Meridian Institute with partners at the North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE), Children & Nature Network (C&NN) and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL). Learn about the Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook, a tool to help legislators and community leaders advance state policies that support getting kids outdoors, then weigh in on critical next steps, including policy and partnership ideas that support outdoor learning during COVID-19 and beyond.
- OAK Action Team Open House: Learn about the OAK National Policy Action Team, which handles federal policy, funding and programs, and the OAK State and Local Action Team, which handles state, local and regional policy, funding and programs (such as Every Kid Outdoors in State Parks) and how you can join as a member or step into a leadership role.
Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill: Starting with a training, participants will join their team leads from the OAK National Policy Action Team on virtual meetings with Congressional staff to advocate for OAK federal policy priorities.
Share Your OAK Week Experience!
Whether you’re an OAK member, partner or supporter, be sure to share your OAK Week 2021 experience by following OAK’s social media handles on Facebook and Twitter!
You can also signal-boost OAK’s shared work by posting on your organization’s or individual social media accounts, using the hashtags #OAKWeek and #EveryKidOutdoors. For social graphics and sample Facebook and Twitter posts, click here.
Outdoors Alliance for Kids 