Photo by Rebecca Stumpf The Sierra Club is a founding and steering committee member of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids. Each September, a new class of fourth graders gets the chance to lead the way outdoors. Through the National Park Service’s Every Kid Outdoors program, U.S. fourth graders, including home-school equivalents, can get a free…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July, 29, 2026 Media Contact: Billy Berler, billy.berler@sierraclub.org View as webpage One Million Kids Outdoors Initiative Reaches 50,000 Kids More than 150 organizations have joined the nationwide effort to get one million kids outdoors by summer 2027 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just over one month after its launch, the…
July 22, 2026 USDA 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-0003 We, the undersigned members and partners of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), write to share our views on the Department’s implementation of Executive Order (EO) 14408 entitled “Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands.” This EO directs the…
July 13, 2026 Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation FICOR Youth Working Group Sent to: BIA, BLM, NPS, USFWS & BOR, USFS, NOAA Re: Connecting children, youth, and families to federally-managed public lands, waters, and shores. Recommendations from the Outdoors Alliance for Kids. Dear FICOR Principles and FICOR Youth Working Group,…
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026 CONTACT: Billy Berler, billy.berler@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids Launches New “One Million Kids Outdoors” Initiative to Connect More Children with Nature WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Outdoors Alliance for Kids, a national partnership of more than 100 organizations and businesses, is excited to introduce the…
In May 2026, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released their Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill, renamed as the BUILD America 250 Act. The Surface Transportation Reauthorization process takes place every 5 years and dictates funding for transportation infrastructure, including federal highways, bridges, and public transit, as well as infrastructure for walking and biking. This…
Below is a copy of the testimony submitted by the Outdoors Alliance For Kids (OAK) to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, during a hearing in April 2026 on the implementation of the EXPLORE Act: On behalf of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), a national strategic partnership of more than…
Photo courtesy of ReFlo FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026 CONTACT: Ginny Roscamp, ginny.roscamp@sierraclub.org View as webpage Outdoors Alliance for Kids Celebrates Introduction of Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act WASHINGTON, D.C. – Outdoors Alliance for Kids coalition members applaud Sen. Martin Heinrich from New Mexico for introducing legislation that would improve youth connections to…
Photo caption: Rohan Jyothinagaram with American Heart Association, Robert Scott with Sierra Club, Jessie Traxler with OAK, and Jahir Morris with The Wilderness Society led meetings with Members of Congress in February 2026 to advocate for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids and the coalition’s priority bills in Congress. By: Jessie Traxler, Outdoors Alliance for Kids…
Below is a copy of the testimony submitted by the Outdoors Alliance For Kids (OAK) to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, during a hearing in January 2026 on the implementation of the EXPLORE Act: On behalf of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), a national strategic partnership of more than 120 organizations…
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…
Robert Mayer with KABOOM!, Rohan Jyothinagaram with American Heart Association, Robert Scott with Sierra Club, and Max Ralphelson with Appalachian Trail Conservancy led meetings with Members of Congress in December 2025 to advocate for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids and the coalition’s priorities in the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization process. Photo courtesy Rohan Jyothinagaram …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is disappointed to see the recent announcement by the Interior Department that it is changing the list of dates for free entry into national parks in 2026. Two holidays have been removed from the list — Martin Luther King Jr Day (January 19) and Juneteenth (June 19)…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025 Contact: Ginny Roscamp, ginny.roscamp@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids applauds introduction of PLAY Act to help create more parks, playgrounds in U.S. Bill introduced by Reps. Williams, Bacon would establish task force making it easier for local governments and schools to access funds for outdoor recreation…
photo credit: Eliza Earle FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025 Contact: Ginny Roscamp, ginny.roscamp@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids calls on National Park Service to improve visitor services during comment period WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, October 9, the National Park Service (NPS) closed its public comment period seeking feedback on ways…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September, 23, 2025 CONTACT: Ginny Roscamp, ginny.roscamp@sierraclub.org Reintroduction of Every Kid Outdoors Act Would Permanently Fund Vital Program Providing National Park Passes to Youth The Outdoors Alliance for Kids has championed program since its inception in 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Yassamin Ansari re-introduced the Every Kid Outdoors Act…
Earlier this summer, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). From cuts to agencies that protect and care for our public lands, to rescinding funds for programs that improve nature access across the country, the OBBB threatens everyone’s ability to connect with the outdoors, especially children, youth, and families. Just weeks after the…
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…
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…
OAK Celebrates Passage of Senate Outdoor Recreation Package Day, Date, 2024 Contact: Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a bipartisan outdoor recreation package. The legislation would improve accessibility options outdoors, improve or create new outdoor recreation facilities, and introduce more generations…
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…
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…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Martin Heinrich and John Boozman today introduced the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act. The Every Kid Outdoors program, which began in 2015, grants all fourth graders free access to federal public lands, waters, and shores. The program is scheduled to sunset in 2026, but this extension would reauthorize it through 2031. …
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Beginning September, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) is launching its Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) Month of Action. From September 3 to October 5, OAK members are organizing a range of events and actions to spread awareness and advocate for the Every Kid Outdoors program. The Every Kid Outdoors program grants all…
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…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, May 21, a group of youth environmental advocates and representatives from dozens of green, equity, healthcare and youth organizations will join agency officials from the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and U.S. Department of Agriculture to discuss ways to transform youth access to nature. The…
TRIANGLE, VA – Today, the Biden Administration made several announcements related to the American Climate Corps (ACC), including the launch of nearly 2,000 positions in the ACC that are accepting applications. Highlights from the announcement include: There is a new website and application portal for the 2,000 open positions. The positions are hosted by hundreds…
Contact: Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress today passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, the bipartisan House outdoor recreation package. The legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Bruce Westerman and Raúl Grijalva, would improve accessibility options outdoors, improve or create new outdoor recreation facilities, and introduce more generations of children to the…
Contact: Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), a national strategic partnership of more than 120 organizations, announced new additions to its steering committee. The new committee launches alongside a new website as OAK reaffirms its commitment to connecting children, youth and families with the outdoors, ensuring millions of kids can improve their…
Contact: Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, DC – The White House announced today the creation of the American Climate Corps, a new program offering young people the workforce training and services needed for careers in the clean energy and climate resilience fields. This new Corps will: In response, OAK members released the following statements: “The establishment…
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…
The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) annual awards were delivered last week 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, 12 people were celebrated for their leadership…
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…
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 in…
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 go…
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 Black…
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 schooling…
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 of…
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 environmental…
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 –…
This blog was written by and originally published by the National Recreation Foundation The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) is a coalition of organizations from across the country that are united around the common cause of getting kids outside and more connected to nature. Committed to multi-sector collaboration, strategic partnerships, and justice, equity, and inclusion, OAK is…
Tuesday, March 15, 2022 Contact: Ian Brickey: (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden signed the FY2022 omnibus spending package into law. The bill provides much-needed funding increases for vital government agencies and essential services, reversing years of cuts under the previous administration. The package also features important funding for the outdoors and nature…
February 3, 2022 By Jackie Ostfeld This blog was originally posted on SierraClub.org. Photo courtesy of Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management. For nearly two years, children and youth have seen their family, social, and educational lives disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has cut young people off from their support networks, and rates…
December 8, 2021 By Jayni Rasmussen, Senior Campaign Representative, OAK As the Build Back Better Act moves through Congress, carrying with it billions in potential funding for outdoor access, the Senate is now considering an historic slate of bills that could transform who has access to public lands and waters. Last week, the Senate Energy and…
Biden’s Plan Includes Transformational Investments in Urban Parks, Community Green Space FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 1, 2021 Contact: Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Biden has unveiled the framework for the Build Back Better Act, including major investments in urban and community parks and green spaces. The package includes $100…
Alliance of more than 100 Organizations Urges Congress to Keep Outdoors Programs in BBB Act Friday, October 22, 2021 Contact: Ian Brickey: (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids called on Congress to maintain full funding for critical outdoors programs in the final version of the federal reconciliation bill. The package drafted…
September 1, 2021 By Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and Jackie Ostfeld This blog was originally posted on SierraClub.org. Featured photo courtesy of the National Park Service. Summer and the outdoors go hand-in-hand, and nowhere is that felt more than in our parks. From hikes through ancient forests to weekend cookouts with friends to soccer or Little League games, our parks are…
August 25, 2021 By Congresswoman Katie Porter and Jayni Rasmussen This blog was originally posted on SierraClub.org. Featured photo: Big Bend at Zion National Park, courtesy Cadence C. Cook, National Park Service. Representative Katie Porter, one of the authors of this blog, knows firsthand the joy of the outdoors. Growing up, her family took vacations at national parks…
This afternoon, OAK Steering Committee member REI Co-op posted on their Instagram account our collaborative story series featuring a Q&A with two of OAK’s amazing youth advocates, Robbie Bond of Kids Speak for Parks and Junior Ranger Tigran Nahabedian! In the stories, Robbie and Tigran both make an incredible case for full funding for the Every Kid Outdoors…
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, was…
guest blog by Katherine Garcia and Jackie Ostfeld, originally posted on the Sierra Club blog If you look for directions from Washington, D.C. to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park on Google Maps, it will chart a route for your car down to the minute. If you try to find that same route via public transit, you…
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,…
We love this great video from Congresswoman Katie Porter, who shares with her rising fourth grader, Betsy, that they’re going on a vacation to a surprise destination: Zion National Park! Thanks to the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program, all fourth graders – including Betsy – and their families get FREE entry to any national park…
Since, 2015, the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program has provided fourth graders with a pass so they and their families can gain free entry to federal public land and water sites. Now, this program needs funding to ensure it can reach kids that need outdoor access more than ever. EKO gives children an opportunity to…
In Case You Missed It: Watch the Recording of Fatima’s Great Outdoors Storytime Live Event By: Jackie Ostfeld, OAK Co-Chair and Founder and Jayni Rasmussen, OAK Senior Campaign Representative Note: Book cover courtesy of Penguin Kids and screenshot from livestream with author Ambreen Tariq. Photo originally posted on Sierra Magazine‘s blog on 4/8/21. Last week, Penguin…
A perspective on exploring national parks with the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) pass as a military family. By Andrew and Hannah Pike As long-time Northern Virginia (NoVA) residents, our family is fortunate to be located near a myriad of landmarks and sources of natural beauty. A 30-minute weekend drive gets us to the National Mall…
“PAW+” Act Protects Public Lands, Promotes Outdoors Equity FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Friday, February 26, 2021Contact: Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org OAK Statement on Passage of Outdoors for All Act in Public Lands Package “PAW+” Act Protects Public Lands, Promotes Outdoors Equity WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Outdoors for All…
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…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Contact: Ian Brickey (314) 238-6766 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org After Pressure, Interior Extends Every Kid Outdoors PassOutside Groups Had Asked for Extension Since August Expiration WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, October 28, the Department of the Interior announced plans to extend the 2019-2020 Every Kid Outdoors pass into 2021. The move comes…
This blog was originally published on the Rethink Outside website, and produced in partnership with the Rethink Outside campaign. Learn more. Recently appointed Vice President for Education and Chief Equity Officer for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Autumn Saxton-Ross, Ph.D., didn’t experience America’s national parks until she was an adult. She went to…
by Jayni Rasmussen, Senior Campaign Representative for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids & Youth at Sierra Club. (Originally published on the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good Blog; cross-posted with permission) With the coronavirus disrupting daily life and increasing isolation, many people are turning to the outdoors for recreation. The increased interest in outdoor recreation…
This blog was produced in partnership with the Rethink Outside campaign. Learn more. Ten years before the COVID-19 crisis and the nationwide uprisings for racial justice, Sierra Club, YMCA of the USA, Children & Nature Network, REI and others set out to form a coalition and address an urgent crisis among America’s children and youth: social disconnection and an obesity epidemic caused by far too…
by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK co-founder & chair, Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign director; text originally published in SIERRA Magazine (photos added here by author) Our kids are not all right. It’s been more than six months since schools across America closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sending children home and, in many cases, into…
Working for Latino Outdoors, Ruby Rodriguez wants to ensure that others can more easily follow in her footsteps “Today, I’m the person I knew I could be—if given the opportunity,” says Ruby Rodriguez. That includes connecting her community in Fresno, California, to Yosemite National Park. The project is funded by the National Park Trust, and…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 28, 2020 ContactIan Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org Washington, DC — The Outdoors Alliance for Kids’ Chair & Vice Chair Jackie Ostfeld and Paul Sanford released the following statement on racism in the outdoors following the incident in Central Park’s Ramble. “No one should fear for their lives when stepping outside. Yet, far…
This article first appeared in the May edition of Parks & Recreation Magazine We are living in strange and difficult times. At the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), we know this international pandemic is challenging for everyone. Physical distancing and sheltering in place are particularly difficult for people who know the value of spending time…
As communities across the world work to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 with restrictions on daily life, it’s more obvious than ever that access to the outdoors, especially close-to-home outdoor recreation, is a necessity, not a nicety. Maintaining your relationship with the outdoors is undeniably difficult right now, but OAK members, supporters and partners are…
by Jackie Ostfeld | This post was originally published on February 19, 2020 on the Sierra Club blog here. Featured photo courtesy of Marvel/Disney. I just got home from paradise, where I had the distinct honor of meeting Marvel’s newest superhero. Robbie Bond has a superpower—teleportation. With great power comes great responsibility, and Robbie is…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2019 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids 2019 Award Winners Announced Washington, D.C. — Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) announced the recipients of the 2019 “OAK Awards.” Awards were given to a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers including Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Ron…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:April Thomas206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids and Scholastic Announce All Kids Outdoors Essay Contest WinnersNearly 2,000 Kids Nationwide Submitted Entries Washington, D.C., (May 23, 2019) — The Outdoors Alliance for Kids and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, are proud to announce the winners of the All Kids…
Sweepstakes WinnerEmmanuel O., 5th Grade, Falls Church, VA All Kids Outdoors Scholastic-OAK Youth Essay ContestYouth Voices Blog Series The Outdoors And People The great outdoor spaces, aren’t they beautiful? An outdoor space is any place outside a living space where people can interact, play, and relax. This includes the backyards of homes, playgrounds for kids, sidewalks,…
Honorable Mention by Indi M., 5th Grade, McLean, VA All Kids Outdoors Scholastic-OAK Youth Essay ContestYouth Voices Blog Series The Importance of Outdoors Children’s outdoor play is rapidly diminishing, we are focusing more on sedentary lifestyles. No one can deny our simple interest with electronics now in the modern era. The outdoors are the original foundation…
Honorable MentionKatie B., 6th Grade, Ellisville, MO All Kids Outdoors Scholastic-OAK Youth Essay ContestYouth Voices Blog Series The Great Outdoors Swinging, sliding, and climbing at parks are only for fun, right? Not true! Parks and outdoor spaces are not only for fun, but are actually necessary for the world. Parks and outdoor spaces improve our health,…
Grand Prize Winning Essayby Violet M., 4th Grade, Kalispell, MTAll Kids Outdoors Scholastic-OAK Youth Essay ContestYouth Voices Blog Series How Nature Improves the Brain American marine biologist Rachel Carson remarked in Silent Spring, “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after…
guest blog by Rinny Yourman, JD, Screen-Free Week Outreach Coordinator, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, OAK Member When children have free time to themselves, how do we want them to spend it? We hope they’ll spend it looking down –not at screens– but digging in the dirt, gardening, collecting shells or stones, admiring flowers, watering…
by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK Founder & Chair, Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign The Every Kid Outdoors Act is now the law of the land – no pun intended. An historic public lands package has swept through both chambers of Congress in atypical bipartisan fashion and landed on the president’s desk. The conservation…
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Every Kid Outdoors Act Passes House and Senate Groups from the Y to the North Face Celebrate Bipartisan Public Lands Package Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Every Kid Outdoors Act (363-62) as part of the Natural Resources Management Act (S.…
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Every Kid Outdoors Act Passes the U.S. Senate Bill Ensures that Program to Allow Fourth Graders to Visit National Parks Will Continue Washington, D.C.– Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed the Every Kid Outdoors Act as part of the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47). The bill…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9th, 2019 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids Calls for End to Shutdown Youth Advocacy Groups Highlight Impacts of Parks Closures Washington, D.C.– Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), a non-partisan alliance of more than 100 groups, called for the government shutdown to end. Member groups of OAK…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids 2018 Award Winners Announced Washington, D.C. — Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) announced the recipients of the 2018 “OAK Awards.” Awards were offered to a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers including Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Mazie…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 2, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Get Children Outdoors Washington, DC — Today, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle came together to pass the Every Kid Outdoors Act, to help get our kids outdoors. The bill, introduced by Senators Martin…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Get Children Outdoors Washington, DC — Today, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle came together to pass the Every Kid Outdoors Act, to help get our kids outdoors. The bill, introduced by Representatives Niki Tsongas (D-MA-03),…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Washington, D.C., — The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) announced today that it will be launching an affiliate partnership with OAK members California Outdoor Engagement Coalition and the Seattle Every Kid in a Park Collaborative. The OAK affiliate partnership will help to connect state…
guest post by Mark Naida – originally appeared in The Detroit News. This story features Detroit Outdoors, a collaborative effort supported by Detroit Parks and Rec, The Kresge Foundation, and OAK members Sierra Club, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, and REI. Living in an urban environment, Detroiters often don’t get the same opportunities to enjoy the outdoors…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids Welcomes 100th Member Organization Washington, D.C., — The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) reached its 100-member milestone with the addition of GreenLatinos, a national coalition of Latino Environmental & Conservation Leaders, who joined the alliance in August, 2018. OAK is…
Guest blog post by Marla Hollander, American Heart Association What could be better than taking a Walk in Nature with your kids? Thinking back on my childhood, my experience with nature as a kid was confined to the suburban neighborhood I grew up in including the neighborhood park, Grover’s Mill pond (yes, the infamous “War…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2018 Contact: Ginny Cramer, 804-519-8449, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org After Public Outcry, Department of the Interior Expected to Continue Program for Kids in National Parks Washington, D.C.– Today, the Department of the Interior is expected to announce that despite news reports that the program was in danger of being cancelled, it will continue…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, May 16, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Congress Acts to Protect Access to Parks for Kids and Families Legislation encourages fourth graders to visit national parks and public lands Washington, D.C.– Today, the Every Kid Outdoors Act passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous, bipartisan approval.…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org Military Kids Deliver Postcards from 4th Graders to Secretary Ryan Zinke Washington, DC — Today, 8 military kids and their families delivered postcards from over 1,000 fourth-graders across the nation to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. Many of the postcards were hand-signed by…
Guest blog by Rinny Yourman, JD – originally appeared on childrenandnaturenetwork.org. OAK is a proud endorser of Screen-Free Week. About the Author: Rinny Yourman, JD, is a Screen Time Program Assistant at the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which hosts Screen-Free Week. Imagine a week when children give their undivided attention to the natural world around…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 26, 2018 Contact: Brenna Muller, 202-548-4581, contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org National Park Trust, Wilderness Inquiry join leadership of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) announced the addition of Grace Lee of National Park Trust and Meg Krueger of Wilderness Inquiry to OAK’s steering committee. The addition…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Contact: April Thomas, 206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org Congress Acts to Protect Access to Parks and Expand Career Pathway Programs for Kids and Youth Legislation encourages fourth graders to visit national parks and public lands; older youth and veterans to find employment opportunities in conservation Washington, D.C.– Today, the Every Kid Outdoors…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 3, 2018 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584; contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org After Public Response Interior Department Reverses Course on National Parks Entrance Fee Increases Victory for Kids and Families Everywhere Washington, DC — News reports indicate that the Department of the Interior will withdraw plans to increase fees for visitors to U.S. national parks. Secretary…
Release: Bipartisan Poll Suggests Public Less Likely to Visit Parks with Higher Entry Fees; Poll Results Released by Outdoor Alliance for Kids
Media Advisory For: December 19, 2017 ***MEDIA ADVISORY: WEDNESDAY TELEPRESSER*** Bipartisan Poll Suggests Public Less Likely to Visit Parks with Higher Entry Fees Washington, DC— Results of a new bipartisan poll released by the Outdoors Alliance for Kids indicate broad concerns about a proposal to dramatically raise entry fees in our national parks. A majority of…
by Suparna Dutta, Sierra Club Outdoors intern New York joins the growing roster of states advancing strategies to connect children and youth with the outdoors. With a unanimous vote (63-0) lawmakers from both sides of the aisle just passed legislation to address the growing divide between children and the outdoors. State Assembly Bill A735 was…
Guest blog post by Patrick Deavy, National Environmental Education Foundation. This holiday season, a family hike or quick trip to a local park could offer more than a chance to escape the hustle and bustle. A new survey conducted by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) shows signs that these family outings may also be…
Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #8 Interview with Tigran, Buddy Bison Student Ambassador Meet Tigran, a twelve year old* from California. Tigran serves as a Buddy Bison Student Ambassador through the National Park Trust and is a true advocate for getting other kids in the outdoors! His incredible involvement has…
Seventy fourth graders from D.C. public schools were able to take Voyageur canoes along the Potomac River and learn about the watershed thanks to a special Canoemobile event in Washington, D.C. with OAK, Wilderness Inquiry, National Park Trust, The North Face, National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service kicking off OAK Week 2017.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 27, 2017 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584, jackie.ostfeld@outdoorsallianceforkids.org OAK 2017 Award Winners Announced lawmakers from both of sides of the aisle recognized for leadership Washington, D.C. — Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) announced the recipients of the 2017 “OAK Awards.” A bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers including Senator…
**MEDIA ADVISORY** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 20, 2017 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org Joe Spring, 612-676-9422, joe@wildernessinquiry.org Brenna Muller, 202-630-1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org Representative McCollum to join kids on the Potomac River DC 4th graders receive their Every Kid in a Park passes [Washington, D.C.] – 70 fourth graders from DC public schools will be getting…
Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #7 Interview with Sarah H., Buddy Bison Student Ambassador Meet Sarah H., a twelve year old from New Jersey in middle school. Although she did not receive an Every Kid in a Park pass during her 4th grade year, she is a huge advocate for…
EVERY KID IN A PARK: Youth Blog Series, Post #6 Interview with Noam, a former Every Kid in a Park pass user, and participant through the Seattle Every Kid in a Park Collaborative. Noam D. is about to start 5th grade at Highland Park Elementary School in Seattle. He is originally from California where he…
– Interview with Jason Morris, Pisces Foundation, by Jackie Ostfeld, Outdoors Alliance for Kids The Pisces Foundation is working to advance strategic solutions to natural resource challenges and prepare the next generation by supporting environmental education. Pisces believes if we act now and boldly, we can quickly accelerate to a world where people and nature…
Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #5 Interview with Nicole, incoming 4th grader and Every Kid in a Park pass recipient Nicole is an incoming 4th grader at Harmony Hills Elementary School in Montgomery County, Maryland. Interviewer, Isabel Argoti, introduced Nicole and her family to the Every Kid in a Park…
For Immediate Release September 6, 2017 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584; contact@outdoorsallianceforkids.org The Every Kid in a Park Program Turns Three 4th graders encouraged to get outdoors; legislation introduced to make program permanent Washington, D.C.–The third year of the Every Kid in a Park program kicks off this month with the launch of the 2017-18…
Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #4 Interview with Natalia A., former Every Kid in a Park pass user, in English and Spanish Natalia A. just finished 5th grade at Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School in Maryland. She participated in the Every Kid in a Program in its first year and was…
Every Kid in a Park: Youth Blog Series Post #3 Guest Blog with Tiaira D. from the National Military Family Association Tiaira D. is a young lady from North Carolina who visited a national park for the first time through National Military Family Association (NMFA) family program. At age 18, she is far from…
For Immediate Release July 31, 2017 Contact: Eric Raymond, The North Face, 510-748-2714, eric_raymond@vfc.com Grace Lee; National Park Trust, 301-279-7275, ext 14, grace@parktrust.org National Park Trust, Outdoors Alliance for Kids Receive The North Face 2017 Explore Fund Grant Groups expand access to the outdoors for 4th graders, military kids, advance Every Kid In A Park Washington,…
Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #2 Interview with Evie E. & Louise R., former Every Kid in a Park pass users Evie E. and Louise R. are both rising sixth-graders at Creative Minds International Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. They were both invited to speak at OAK’s Congressional Lunch Briefing…
On Friday, July 14th, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids held a Twitter Party to discuss the Every Kid Outdoors Act. The legislation was introduced this week with bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. Here’s a roundup of our Twitter Party with OAK members and the Congressional sponsors of the bill. The Every Kid Outdoors…
July 14, 2017 Every Kid in a Park – Youth Blog Series, Post #1 Guest blog post by Ben T., rising 4th grader, Arlington, VA Ben T. is a rising 4th grader at Ashlawn Elementary in Arlington, Virginia. This is the first in a series of blogs highlighting students who have used, or gearing…
Washington, DC — Today, members of congress on both sides of the aisle came together to help get our kids outdoors. The Every Kid Outdoors Act, introduced by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Representatives Niki Tsongas (D-MA-03), Scott Tipton (R-CO-03), and Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), would encourage fourth graders and their families to visit America’s natural, cultural, and historical treasures.
Guest blog post by Suparna Dutta, Nearby Nature intern, Sierra Club Nevada fifth-graders! Tie up your shoe laces, put on your adventure hats, and pick up your backpacks. There is exciting news in store for you! Beginning in July, a Nevada law will encourage school children aged 9-11 to visit and play in any of…
guest blog by Grace Lee, Executive Director of National Park Trust Last year during the centennial of the National Park Service, our national parks alone enjoyed more than 330 million park visitors. Great news – right? Unfortunately, most of their visitors are white and aging. Young people are our next generation of park stewards and…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 23, 2017 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org Liza Stearns, 617-201-7217, liza_stearns@nps.gov Brenna Muller, 202-630-1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org Boston Fourth Graders Receive Passes to Visit Public Lands and Waters Every Kid in a Park Event at Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area connects children with nature [Boston, MA] – Today,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2017 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org, 202-548-6584 The White House budget proposal, wrong for our kids and communities Washington, DC–Today, President Donald Trump released his fiscal year 18 budget proposal. The White House has recommended a $3.6 trillion cut to federal spending over the next decade, dealing a major blow…
guest blog by Mary Anne Hitt, Director of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign; and Jackie Ostfeld, Director of the Sierra Club Nearby Nature Initiative and Co-Founding Chair of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids As moms, we can’t wait for this Sunday’s holiday, filled with adorable homemade craft projects, meals with family, and lots of…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 6, 2017 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org; Kim Swift, 219-395-1622, kimberly_swift@nps.gov; Brenna Muller, 202-630-1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org Chicago Fourth Graders Receive Passes to Visit Public Lands and Waters Every Kid in a Park Event at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore connects children with nature [Chicago] – Today, partners came together to ensure…
guest blog by Annie Yearout, Author of OutdoorsyMama.com – originally appeared on outdoorsymama.blogspot.com Celebrating “Every Kid in a Park” granting free National Park Passes to all 4th graders nationwide! San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Photo: National Park Trust The super-tall, super-lean, super-endurance runner Dylan Bowman is bent over a bunch of outdoor gear…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 26, 2017 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org; Lynn Cullivan, 415-561-7006, lynn_cullivan@nps.gov; Brenna Muller, 202-630-1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org Fourth Graders Receive Passes to Visit Public Lands and Waters Every Kid in a Park Event at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park connects children with nature [San Francisco] – Today, partners came together to ensure…
Guest Blog by Brenna Muller, OAK Program Manager November 22, 2016 Last week, members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) came together for our annual gathering in Washington, D.C. to ensure kids across America can experience our national parks and public lands. As part of the week’s events, members of OAK joined the National…
For Immediate Release November 15, 2016 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org, 202-548-6584 Outdoors Alliance for Kids Announces Inaugural OAK Leaf Awards REI, The North Face, National Park Trust, Children & Nature Network and National League of Cities honored for collaborative approach to getting kids outdoors Washington, DC – Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) announced…
**MEDIA ADVISORY** November 16, 2016 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org ; Brenna Muller, 202-630-1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org Fourth Graders, Outdoors Alliance for Kids connect kids with nature Every Kid in a Park Youth Event in Anacostia Park [Washington, D.C.] – Partners of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) are coming together to ensure kids across America can experience our…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 7, 2016 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org ; Brenna Muller, 202-630-1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org DC 4th Graders Get Free Passes to Visit Public Lands and Waters [DC] – Today, partners came together to ensure kids across America can experience our national parks and public lands. The National Park Trust, The North Face,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Contact: Grace Lee, 301-706-3407, grace@parktrust.org; Brenna Muller, 202-630- 1864, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org NYC 4th graders get free passes to visit public lands and waters [New York City] – Today, partners came together to ensure kids across America can experience our national parks and public lands. The National Park…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.Cramer@sierraclub.org Every Kid in a Park Program Enters Year Two Outdoors Alliance for Kids to get tens of thousands of fourth graders outdoors this fall Washington, D.C. – Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids announced its Every Kid in a Park fall program lineup. Just in time for back…
guest blog by Brandon Nguyen, Sierra Club intern, Summer 2016 Earlier this summer, the First Family visited Yosemite National Park to celebrate Father’s Day and the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in the great outdoors. Standing in a picturesque scene, with the natural legacy of Half-Dome towering several thousand feet overhead, President Obama…
guest post by Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club’s Nearby Nature Director and Co-Founding Chair of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids – originally appeared in Huffington Post Carrying an extra twenty-one pounds of baby on your back as you climb out of the Grand Canyon during a hot day in July isn’t easy. At least, so I’ve heard.…
July 15, 2016 For Immediate Release Contact: Brenna Muller, 202-548-4581, brenna.muller@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance to Kids receives support from Co-Founder, REI Washington, DC – The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) is honored to receive support from one of its founding steering committee members, REI. With a generous grant of $30,000, REI is ensuring OAK…
National Park Trust, Outdoors Alliance for Kids Receive The North Face 2016 Explore Fund Grants NPT’s Buddy Bison Program funded to increase access to the outdoors for youth in 5 urban cities. Washington, D.C. – June 30, 2016 – In this Centennial year of the National Park Service, National Park Trust is pleased to…
RELEASE: Autumn Saxton-Ross, PhD joins leadership of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– The Outdoors Alliance for Kids today announced the addition of Autumn Saxton-Ross, PhD to its steering committee. Autumn is NatureBridge’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and brings a wealth of experience in parks, health and equity into the growing alliance. “I have been…
guest blog by Martin LeBlanc, Senior Vice President, External Affairs – Islandwood One of the things I appreciate most about the children and nature movement is the broad-based, grassroots coalition of organizations that work together every day to provide children with opportunities to learn, play, and explore in the outdoors. Whether the scope is coast-to-coast…
guest blog by Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club Nearby Nature Director, Co-Founder and Chair of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Our National Parks are turning 100, and they’re starting to look a little grey. Fifty-four is not just the age of President Obama, it’s also the average age of a visitor to Yellowstone National Park. America’s…
originally published on WhiteHouse.gov The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release April 21, 2016 FACT SHEET: On Every Kid In a Park Day of Action, White House Announces Commitments to Getting Nearly Half a Million Kids Outside Today, the White House is announcing that more than two dozen foundations, companies and…
April 19, 2016 PRESS ADVISORY White House and Partners to Host “Every Kid in a Park” Event at Fort McHenry to Celebrate National Park Week Contact: Sam Chiron, National Parks Conservation Association, 202.419.3712 or schiron@npca.org WHAT: During National Park Week, the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality, along with the City of Baltimore and other partner…
guest blog post by A. Tianna Scozzaro, Director, Sierra Club’s Global Population & Environment Program “We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends” – Mary McLeod Bethune A powerful civil rights activist and educator, Mary…
guest blog by Brittney McKeown, Girl Scouts of the USA As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we reflect on the need to ensure all girls have an opportunity to get outside. For over a century, providing girls with access to the outdoors and offering authentic leadership experiences have been cornerstone elements of the Girl Scout mission. Girl Scouts…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2016 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.Cramer@sierraclub.org Every Kid in a Park Spring Tour Outdoors Alliance for Kids to get 1000s of fourth graders outdoors this spring Washington, DC – Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids announced its Spring Every Kid in a Park program lineup. OAK members will host a…
For Immediate Release: February 24, 2016 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld; 202-548-6584; Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org Alliance for Childhood and Latino Outdoors join leadership of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– The Outdoors Alliance for Kids today announced two new steering committee members, Linda Rhoads of the Alliance for Childhood and Jose Gonzalez of Latino Outdoors. Each brings a new,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2015 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.Cramer@sierraclub.org Forest Service Press Office, 202-205-1134, pressoffice@fs.fed.us Outdoors Alliance for Kids, Forest Service Partner to Get Children and Youth Outside WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) joined Forest Service Chief Thomas L. Tidwell to announce a new partnership to increase…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids Calls for Reauthorization, Full Funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund WASHINGTON, DC — The House Natural Resources Committee today will hold a hearing on draft legislation “Protecting America’s Recreation and Conservation Act,” introduced by Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) as…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 12, 2015 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.Cramer@sierraclub.org, Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584, Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org OAK celebrates the launch of Every Kid in a Park Hawai’i Oahu, Hawai’i–Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids joined musician Jack Johnson and his wife Kim, the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation, Obama administration officials and more than 200 fourth graders to…
guest blog by Jackie Ostfeld, OAK Chair and Sierra Club Nearby Nature Director Nothing warms my heart more than seeing children explore nature. This week, I was honored to attend the launch event for the Every Kid in a Park initiative in New York City at Hamilton Grange National Memorial in Harlem. At the Grange,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 29, 2015 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.Cramer@sierraclub.org Jackie Ostfeld, 202-821-8877, Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org NYC 4th graders get free passes to visit public lands and waters OAK helps launch the Every Kid in a Park initiative in Harlem Today, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, members of the Outdoors Alliance for…
National Park Service Media Advisory NPNH Kicks Off Every Kid in a Park NYC at Hamilton Grange NM Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the home of founding father and Harlem resident Alexander Hamilton, will be the location for the kickoff of Every Kid in a Park NYC. NPS PHOTO Subscribe | What is RSS News Release…
guest blog by Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club’s Nearby Nature Director and OAK Chair, and Brenna Muller, Sierra Club’s Trails and OAK Program Manager Give me an O. Give me an A. Give me a K. What’s that spell? “OAK” cheered 100s of fourth graders at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, on Tuesday during an…
White House, National Park Service, Outdoors Alliance for Kids and 100 Fourth Graders Promote Every Kid in a Park Initiative September 15, 9:45 am in Rock Creek Park WASHINGTON, DC, September 11, 2015 — Federal officials, local government leaders, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids and more than 100 local fourth graders will gather in Washington’s…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2015 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld; 202-548-6584; jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org OAK Celebrates Launch of “Every Kid in a Park” Initiative Washington, D.C. — On September 1, the Obama administration launched the Every Kid in a Park initiative to inspire a new generation to get outside and to become stewards of our nation’s cultural and…
For Immediate Release Contacts: Christina Batcheler 703-438-6098 batchelerc@nwf.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids Supports Healthy Kids Outdoors Act to Reconnect Kids with Nature New Legislation Aims To Connect Youth with the Outdoors WASHINGTON (April 23, 2015) – Today, Senator Martin Heinrich (NM) and Congressman Ron Kind (WI) introduced legislation aimed at connecting youth and families with…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2015 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld; jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org; 202-548-6584 National Park Service prepares to celebrate 100 years OAK praises “Find Your Park” campaign to get kids and youth outdoors WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation launched the “Find Your Park” campaign to connect with and create…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 12, 2015 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld; jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org; 202-548-6584 OAK Praises Secretary Jewell’s initiative to get youth outdoors in 50 cities Washington, DC –Today, in New York City Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced a commitment from American Express that will support a new initiative with YMCA of the USA to connect young people…
guest blog by Richard Louv, co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network (originally appeared on C&NN’s blog) On Feb. 19, over a thousand people crowded into the gym of the Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, a four-year magnet high school located on the south side of Chicago. They were there to see and hear President Obama name…
guest blog by Sierra Club Nearby Nature Director and OAK Chair, Jackie Ostfeld; originally featured in the Huffington Post A walk in the woods will change a child’s life. That is, if she ever makes it to the trailhead. This week, President Obama unveiled the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative to connect children and their…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2015 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-519-8449, Virginia.Cramer@sierraclub.org OAK Praises “Every Kid in a Park” Initiative President Obama to get 4th graders across America outdoors Washington, DC—President Obama today announced a major new effort to connect children with parks and public lands. The “Every Kid in a Park” initiative will open the…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2015 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld; 202-548-6584; Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids Supports No Child Left Inside Act Bill would get kids learning in and about the environment Washington, DC – Today, Senators Jack Reed (RI-D) and Mark Kirk (IL-R) and Congressmen John Sarbanes (MD-R) and Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-R)…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2014 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584, Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org OAK Members Support Efforts to Connect Youth to Urban Waters WASHINGTON, DC – Today, twenty-eight nongovernmental organizations, including eight members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, signed on to support the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, a fourteen agency collaboration to reconnect urban communities with…
guest blog by Sierra Club’s Nearby Nature Director and OAK’s Chair Jackie Ostfeld I am pleased to announce that one of the founders of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), REI, recently announced support for the Alliance with a gift of $30,000. The grant will help OAK meet our mission to connect children, youth and…
OAK October 2014 Newsletter OAK ECHO Across America Webinar On October 6, OAK’s State and Local Action team lead a webinar on OAK’s ECHO (Every Child Healthy Outdoors) Across Americainitiative. 32 participants joined us for the webinar to learn about the initiative and how to utilize the ECHO Across America Toolkit. Interested in joining OAK’s…
OAK September 2014 Newsletter OAK Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day – September 8-9, 2014 OAK’s Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC was a huge success! OAK members traveled from across the country to attend the meeting to share ideas and discuss how best to advance OAK’s goals. We were fortunate to have in attendance members from the…
Mark your calendar: Monday, October 6, 2014 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET Please join the Outdoors Alliance for Kids for the launching of our new Every Child Healthy Outdoors (ECHO) Across America Toolkit. OAK’s ECHO Across America Toolkit provides a suite of resources to advance opportunities to connect children, youth and families with the outdoors…
OAK guest blog by Susan Wirth, Outreach Director with Dimensions Educational Research Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation originally published by Natural Start Alliance Connecting children with nature has a myriad of benefits that are receiving national attention. Research tells us that children who spend time in nature are more creative, less stressed, better able to concentrate, physically…
OAK member guest blog by Allen Cooper, from National Wildlife Federation originally published in Wildlife Promise Every parent who has ever watched a child play in nature has cause to rejoice. NWF’s guide Nature Play & Learning Places: Creating and Managing Places Where Children Engage with Nature shows how to design and manage nature play areas…
OAK August 2014 Newsletter SAVE THE DATE: Every Child Healthy Outdoors (ECHO) Across America Toolkit Webinar We are so pleased to announce the launching of OAK’s Every Child Healthy Outdoors (ECHO) Across America Toolkit. OAK’s ECHO Across America Toolkit provides a series of resources and templates to convene a meeting of leaders of organizations in your state…
guest blog by Sierra Club Nearby Nature Director and OAK Chair Jackie Ostfeld originally published in the Huffington Post The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just released the 2014 State Indicator Report on Physical Activity, and it’s bleak. The state by state analysis is a stark reminder that most kids in America are not…
OAK Member Guest Blog by Eric Bach and Irene Lam from Hipcamp Camping should be simple. If I want to get outside with my family next weekend and camp by the ocean, I should be able to. However, after spending hours of searching online to answer these questions, we realized it really isn’t so easy.…
OAK July Newsletter OAK Celebrates Great Outdoors America Week June 23 -26, 2014 marked the annual Great Outdoors America Week, where 100s of advocates descended upon Washington, DC, to remind our nation’s leaders of the importance of America’s great outdoors. OAK celebrated GO Week by hosting our second annual Youth and America’s Great Outdoors Event.…
The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) Hosts an Event as part of Great Outdoors America Week OAK Member Guest Blog by Tia Watkins, Sierra Club During my second full week as a Sierra Club intern I was lucky enough to participate in Great Outdoors America Week , a week dedicated to raising awareness around outdoor issues…
Guest blog co-authored by Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association and Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club For the 10th consecutive year, the president signed a proclamation declaring that June is Great Outdoors Month. This is to encourage us to get outdoors and enjoy our natural heritage. While the president certainly…
OAK Member guest blog by Jessica Culverhouse, National Recreation and Park Association My family and I love to camp. My husband and I both grew up in camping families, and when our son was born, we knew we wanted to take him camping early and often to help foster a love for the outdoors and…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, June 25, 2014 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-225-9113 x 102, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org; Beth Dooley, 612-325-0203, beth@wildernessinquiry.org Outdoors Alliance for Kids, 300+ Youth Launch Great Outdoors America Week on Anacostia River Asst. Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Darcy, Saint Paul Mayor Coleman Connect Kids with Nature Washington, D.C.– National leaders, mountaineers, and outdoor and…
OAK member guest blog by Jackie Ostfeld, Nearby Nature Director, Our Wild America Campaign, Sierra Club Originally published in Sierra Club’s “Lay of the Land“ Just for kicks, I googled fear of outside this morning. My search turned up 187 million results. For comparison’s sake, I then googled fear of death and fear of…
OAK member guest blog by Juan Martinez, The North Face Ambassador Originally posted in Never Stop Exploring The North Face Ambassador Juan Martinez’s life has been shaped by many experiences but defined by a single opportunity. In 9th grade the South Central LA native received an ultimatum: Either go to detention or go to Eco Club. Juan…
For Immediate Release May 21, 2014 Contact: Christina Batcheler; 703-438-6098; batchelerc@nwf.org OUTDOORS ALLIANCE FOR KIDS (OAK) SUPPORTS HEALTHY KIDS OUTDOORS ACT TO RECONNECT KIDS WITH NATURE New Legislation Aims To Improve Kids’ Physical, Mental and Social Health WASHINGTON (May 21, 2014) – Today, Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) and Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced legislation aimed at connecting children,…
U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-Ohio), U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined together to introduce a resolution to urge America’s youth to live active lifestyles and to enjoy and protect our nation’s special places to mark…
OAK member guest blog by National Outdoor Leadership School A typical National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course involves a team of instructors taking a group of students 14 and older into the backcountry and teaching them outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. We’ve been doing this for nearly 50 years, and can write reams about…
OAK member guest blog by Ben Klasky, President & CEO of IslandWood originally published in The Huffington Post Why are we so afraid to let our kids play outside, when we know that such activity is vital for their physical and mental health? Our fears are so extreme that in a few cases, parents have been…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 17, 2014 Contacts: Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club – 202-821-8877; jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org; Paul Sanford, The Wilderness Society – 202-429-2616; paul_sanford@tws.org White House Honors “Champions of Change” for connecting youth with the outdoors Several OAK members to receive award Washington, DC — Tomorrow, fourteen Champions of Change will be honored at the White House for their efforts…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2014 Contacts: Jackie Ostfeld; 202-548-6584; Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org; Joe Gersen; 202-737-6272; jgersen@corpsnetwork.org The Public Lands Service Coalition joins steering committee of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) today announced that The Corps Network’s Public Lands Service Coalition has joined the national partnership to connect children, youth…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2014 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584, Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org Members of Outdoors Alliance for Kids Applaud Secretary Sally Jewell for Announcement on Youth and the Outdoors Washington, DC – This morning, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell joined American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and the US Department of Agriculture to announce a major private sector investment of…
Contacts: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-821-8877, Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org Paul Sanford, 202-429-2615, paul_sanford@tws.org Interior Secretary Jewell Ramps Up Efforts to Connect Youth with the Outdoors WASHINGTON, DC –Today, at the National Press Club, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell laid out her conservation agenda for the next four years. As part of that agenda, Secretary Jewell stressed the importance…
guest blog by Jeff Ramsden of Get To Know The Get to Know Program, a proud member of OAK, has been inspiring connections between children and nature in the outdoors for well over a decad Through the North American-wide Get to Know Contest, we help encourage Canadian and American youth to get outdoors, connect with nature…
guest blog by Jackie Ostfeld of the Sierra Club; originally published in the Huffington Post In a welcome break from partisan gridlock, congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle have come together to advance environmental education and outdoor learning opportunities for students across America. Earlier this week, Congressmen John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and…
Guest blog by Jackie Ostfeld. Originally appeared on Sierra Club’s Outdoors blog. The story of Great Outdoors America Week 2013 is best told through photographs. Sierra Club Outdoors hosted 15 volunteers for a week filled with lobby visits, briefings, receptions and events. We participated in 20 meetings with elected officials where we advocated for increasing opportunities for…
For Immediate Release Contacts: Rebecca Silver, 201-981-1221, rebecca.silver@sierraclub.org Aislinn Maestas, 202-797-6624, maestas@nwf.org Interior Secretary Sally Jewell Helps Connect Kids with the Great Outdoors at Fun-Filled Event on the National Mall WASHINGTON, DC (June 26, 2013) – Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell spent Wednesday afternoon walking, talking and having fun with 100 local youth…
06/24/2013 Contact us Original Advisory Published on US Department of the Interior Website WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will join kids and conservation leaders and organizations this week to celebrate Great Outdoors America Week (GO Week). On Tuesday, June 25, Jewell will participate in a conversation about conservation and youth with Richard Louv, award-winning author of eight…
MEDIA ALERT INTERIOR SECRETARY SALLY JEWELL JOINS OUTDOORS ALLIANCE FOR KIDS AT KIDS, YOUTH AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS FESTIVAL AND PRESS CONFERENCE **Attention Photo/TV Desks – Great Visuals** Monday, June 24, 2013 Contact: Rebecca Silver, Sierra Club, Rebecca.Silver@SierraClub.org Jessica Kershaw, Department of Interior, 202-208-6416 WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, Secretary of the Interior…
Great Outdoors America Week (GO Week) starts today. The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is proud to participate in GO Week 2013 where we will join our partners to ensure kids, youth and families across the nation have opportunities to get outdoors. GO Week is the preeminent event celebrating our collective connection to the great outdoors while…
by Dr. Jill Biden Originally published on the White House Joining Forces Blog As we mark the second anniversary of Joining Forces and celebrate the Month of the Military Child, April gives us the opportunity to celebrate our nation’s youngest heroes—the children whose parents serve in our Armed Forces. Military children face many unique challenges – on average,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 4, 2013 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, 202-548-6584, jackie.ostfeld@sierraclub.org The Outdoors Alliance for Kids Welcomes the Nomination of Gina McCarthy as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gina McCarthy, to be…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, February 6, 2013 Contact: Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club, 202-548-6584 The Outdoors Alliance for Kids Praises Nomination of Sally Jewell as Secretary of the Interior Washington, DC – Today, President Obama nominated REI CEO Sally Jewell as the next US Secretary of the Interior. Statement of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK)…
CONTACT: Stacy Bare, Sierra Club, 720-519-5837, stacy.bare@sierraclub.org Kristina Ortez de Jones, Sierra Club, 505-206-9629 kristina.ortez@sierraclub.org CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING: STRENGTHENING AMERICA Connecting Military Kids, Families and Veterans with the Great Outdoors June 27, 2012 – Washington DC – To commemorate Great Outdoors America Week, experts gathered to discuss opportunities for the Administration, the military and non-profit partners…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2012 Contact: Jacqueline Ostfeld; 202-548-6584; Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org; Retha Sherrod; (202) 785-7929; retha.sherrod@heart.org American Heart Association joins steering committee of Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– OAK (Outdoors Alliance for Kids) today announced that the American Heart Association has joined the growing partnership advocate for connecting children, youth and families with the outdoors. With the…
For Immediate Release Contact: Kristina Ortez de Jones, Sierra Club, 505-206-9629 Kristina.ortez@sierraclub.org CELEBRATION OF THE MILITARY CHILD OUTDOORS Hundreds of military children gather to kick off Month of the Military Child March 31, 2012 – TRIANGLE, VA – April 1st marks the start of the Month of the Military Child. The Sierra Club, Armed Services YMCA, Blue Star Families, National Military Family…
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Max Greenberg, National Wildlife Federation, greenbergm@nwf.org or 703-438-6018 Healthy Kids Outdoors Act Supports Strategies to Connect Kids with Nature Congressman Ron Kind (WI) and Senator Mark Udall (CO) Introduce Legislation to Bolster Outdoor Recreation, Address Childhood Obesity and Strengthen the Economy WASHINGTON, DC (November 3, 2011) — Congressman Ron Kind (WI) and Senator Mark Udall…
For Immediate Release: June 14, 2011 Contacts: Maggie Kao (Sierra Club) 202-675-2384 Max Greenberg (National Wildlife Federation) 703-438-6018 Mona Klausing (Active Network) 858-964-3813 OAK Makes a Move to Get More Kids Active Outdoors in Support of America’s Great Outdoors and Let’s Move Outside! Washington, DC—To commemorate its one year anniversary and celebrate National Get Outdoors…
6/13/2011 Contact: Kendra Barkoff (DOI) 202-208-6416 View Original Release from the US Department of the Interior WASHINGTON, D.C. — This afternoon, seventy-five local DC students from Thurgood Marshall High School were invited to play on what may be considered the nation’s most well-known backyard, the White House South Lawn. As part of the First Lady’s Summer…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2011 Contact: Jacqueline Ostfeld; 202-548-6584; Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org Jessica B. Lange; 510-618-2734; Jessica_b_Lange@vfc.com The North Face joins steering committee of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) today announced that the North Face has joined the fast-growing national partnership to connect children, youth and families with…
February 16, 2011 IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Mary Burnette, National Wildlife Federation, Burnette@nwf.org, 703-438-6097 America’s Great Outdoors Initiative Reconnects Children, Youth and Families with Nature White House Report Highlights Health, Economic, Conservation and Social Benefits of Outdoor Recreation and Unstructured Outdoor Play WASHINGTON (February 16, 2011) — The Outdoors Alliance for Kids commends President Barack Obama for…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2011 Contact: Jacqueline Ostfeld; 202-821-8877; Jackie.Ostfeld@sierraclub.org Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity joins steering committee of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids Washington, DC– The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) today announced that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity has joined the fast-growing partnership to connect…
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Communications Contact: Amanda Cooke, National Wildlife Federation, cookea@nwf.org or 703-438-6041 Moving Outdoors in Nature Act Will Support Strategies to Connect Kids with Nature Congressman Ron Kind (D – WI) Introduces Bill to Bolster Federal, State and Local Recreation and Health Initiatives WASHINGTON (November 18, 2010) — Congressman Ron Kind (D – WI) today introduced the Moving Outdoors…
For Immediate Release: June 1, 2010 Contact: David Willett, 202-675-6698 Outdoors Alliance for Kids Coalition Established to Connect Children and Families with the Great Outdoors First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign introduces outdoors component as organizations unite Las Vegas, NV—As First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the Let’s Move OUTSIDE initiative today in Las Vegas, expanding her campaign…