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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…