Below is the essay that Nazma Begum, OAK Youth Advisor, submitted to the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s Norm Strung Student Writing Contest. Nazma won third place for this essay. “Let me tell you about the time my whole perspective on the outdoors changed—an experience I never saw coming. Back in 2021, I stumbled upon…
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…
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…
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…
By Julia Hurwit September was an exciting month for youth, families, and the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK). As school started for many, OAK launched its Every Kid Outdoors Month of Action to welcome the new cohort of fourth graders with their Every Kid Outdoors passes. The Every Kid Outdoors program grants all fourth graders…
The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) annual awards were delivered during OAK’s annual advocacy week in D.C. Established in 2016, they are bestowed yearly on OAK members and decision-makers for significant contributions toward advancing opportunities for children, youth, and families to connect with nature. This year, seven people were celebrated for their leadership and work…
By Jackie Ostfeld As the Outdoors Alliance for Kids continues to grow, our annual advocacy event OAK Week evolves to match. The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) is a national strategic partnership of more than 130 organizations committed to ensuring equitable access to nature for children, youth and families. Since last year’s OAK Week, we’ve…
By Jackie Ostfeld, OAK co-founder and chair Every year, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) hosts a week of advocacy events in D.C. to push for more equitable access to the outdoors for children and families across the country. As our membership and participation increases, it is heartening to see the event grow each year, with…
by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK co-founder and chair The climate and nature equity crises are two sides of the same coin – the same communities that lack access to nearby nature are also experiencing the brunt of climate change impacts. A history of racist land-use policies like redlining and sacrifice zones have led to communities gutted…