Category Archives: Uncategorized

To All the Fourth Graders in Michigan, Nature Awaits

guest post by Elayne Elliot, Chapter Director of Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter and Jackie Ostfeld, OAK Chair and Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign Sierra Club and our partners have a long history of working to expand access to the outdoors for all Michiganders, starting with the pivotal role that we played inContinue reading “To All the Fourth Graders in Michigan, Nature Awaits”

Growing Stronger Together in 2022: Outdoors Alliance for Kids

by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK co-founder and chair As we head into winter, I am welcoming the short days and long nights as an invitation to slow down, rest, and reflect. Walking through my neighborhood park on a crisp cool day, I am filled with gratitude for my nearby parks and public lands, places I goContinue reading “Growing Stronger Together in 2022: Outdoors Alliance for Kids”

A Gala Sendoff, and an Important Reminder that Nature Heals

by Ayodele Abdul-Hadi, OAK Advisor Right on the waterfront, with a serene view of the sunset and San Francisco city skyline, I was part of a group of about 200 people attending the first in-person Outdoor Afro annual Glamp Out since the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. The evening was a beautiful celebration of BlackContinue reading “A Gala Sendoff, and an Important Reminder that Nature Heals”

Our Kids Are Facing a Mental Health Crisis, Nature Can Help

by Jackie Ostfeld and Monica Lopez Magee As we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and youth continue to face upheavals in their family, social, and educational lives. Their daily routines are disrupted by exposure alerts and quarantines, they may be unable to see friends and family, and the back-and-forth of virtual and in-person schoolingContinue reading “Our Kids Are Facing a Mental Health Crisis, Nature Can Help”

California Rep. Katie Porter Receives Outdoors Alliance for Kids Award

Wednesday, August 3, 2022 Contact:Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org; Lindsay Reilly, lindsay.reilly@mail.house.gov IRVINE, CA – Yesterday, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) recognized Rep. Katie Porter of California’s 45th district for her leadership in connecting kids to the outdoors. OAK is a partnership of over a hundred organizations, including the Sierra Club and REI, with a goal ofContinue reading “California Rep. Katie Porter Receives Outdoors Alliance for Kids Award”

How a Young Generation of Outdoors Leaders Are Expanding Access to Nature

by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK Founder & Chair Sunshine and 80 degrees in Washington, DC – you couldn’t have asked for a better day to talk about the importance of nature. After a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids’ (OAK) annual OAK Week relaunched in person on Tuesday. Youth environmentalContinue reading “How a Young Generation of Outdoors Leaders Are Expanding Access to Nature”

My one wish is that every child has the RIGHT to outdoor access and public lands

by Tigran Nahabedian, OAK Advisor Time in nature teaches important lessons and skills, and is vital to our children’s development. But right now, access to parks and public lands is not equal across our communities, and climate change is increasingly affecting the green spaces we do have. One hundred million people in the US –Continue reading “My one wish is that every child has the RIGHT to outdoor access and public lands”

RELEASE: Park and Conservation Organizations Applaud DOI’s $16 Million in Funding for Local Parks and Recreation in Disadvantaged Urban Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Tuesday, August 10, 2021Contact: Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org Today, the National Park Service announced its fourth round of Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) awardees which will distribute $16 million in funding for parks projects across 19 communities throughout the country. The ORLP, funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, wasContinue reading “RELEASE: Park and Conservation Organizations Applaud DOI’s $16 Million in Funding for Local Parks and Recreation in Disadvantaged Urban Communities”

Interior Announces $150 Million for Increasing Park Access in Urban Areas – So What Does That Mean for Youth and Families?

Today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced $150 million in funding for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s newly-released America the Beautiful initiative. Since 2014, ORLP (a program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund) funding has enabled urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks,Continue reading “Interior Announces $150 Million for Increasing Park Access in Urban Areas – So What Does That Mean for Youth and Families?”