by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK Founder & Chair I am winding down and getting ready to enjoy the holiday season with my family and I hope you are, too. 2025 has been a wild ride. Our outdoor way of life has been tested like never before. From reductions in force at our land agencies, efforts to…
By Jackie Ostfeld, Outdoors Alliance for Kids Chair and Co-Founder During his first term in office, President Trump signed into law a significant conservation bill. A widely celebrated bipartisan victory, the Great American Outdoors Act ensured funding for both conservation and maintenance projects on our national parks and public lands. Now, with the release of…
WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump administration’s official budget request for fiscal year 2026, released Friday, includes devastating cuts to multiple programs that are critical to nationwide conservation efforts and efforts to get children, youth, and families outdoors. Among the targeted programs are the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which funds conservation and recreation projects…
WASHINGTON, DC – Dozens of organizations signed onto a letter to express concern to Congress following the funding cuts and mass layoffs at AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is a critical program that connects our country’s youth to the outdoors through the creation of jobs in conservation, disaster relief, and the outdoor economy. The 59 organizations are all…
Dear Members of Congress, We, the undersigned members and partners of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), write to collectively express our concern over the funding cuts and mass layoffs at AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is a critical program that connects our country’s youth to the outdoors through the creation of jobs in conservation, disaster relief, and…
We, the Steering Committee members of OAK listed below, write to collectively share a proposal for the Transportation Reauthorization Act to protect and enhance investment in transportation infrastructure through the following programs. Include the Transit to Trails Act in the bill. Legislation introduced in the 118th Congress would have created a program that would support…
By Lily Kay, OAK Youth Advisor National parks, and the outdoors in general, have always been a huge part of my life. My earliest memories include visiting the Grand Canyon with my family, camping in Texas state parks, and running around with my brother at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park. As a sophomore…
by Jackie Ostfeld, Outdoors Alliance for Kids founder & chair In the midst of another divisive election year, the outdoors continues to be a unifying bright star. The benefits our kids experience from spending time in nature are many. Students who learn outdoors see improvement to academic performance. Children living in greener neighborhoods have more…
WASHINGTON, DC – Dozens of organizations signed onto a letter in support of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a bipartisan outdoor recreation package which contains key provisions that would improve accessibility in recreational opportunities on public lands. EXPLORE has passed in the House and is waiting for action from the Senate.…
Dear Members of Congress: We, the undersigned members and partners of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), and the supporters of OAK’s mission, write to collectively urge support for the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act which contains key provisions that would improve recreational opportunities and facilitate greater access to public lands. OAK…