Nonprofit, Business Coalition Launches Major Push to Advance Youth Outdoor Access

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, an alliance of more than 100 businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations are mobilizing for a nationwide campaign to expand youth access to the outdoors.

Starting today, May 16, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids is launching a week of advocacy with the goal of closing the nature equity gap and empowering youth and families across the country to make critical direct connections with nature. The week is highlighted by a Day of Advocacy and Outdoor Activities in Rock Creek Park led by young activists who are at the forefront of the effort to protect public lands, expand access to the outdoors, and improve health and wellbeing. During the series of events, OAK will also honor the efforts and works of decision-makers and advocates in the field of nature equity and outdoors access.

In December 2021, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared the United States was facing a youth mental health crisis, exacerbated by the disruptions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Studies indicate that exposure to nature and spending time outdoors has significant positive effects on mental and physical health and wellbeing.

While the benefits of nature would help take on this national crisis, access to nature is far from equal across the country. One hundred million people in the U.S., including 28 million children, do not live within 10 minutes of a park or green space. The green space we do have is increasingly threatened by climate change. About a football field’s worth of natural space is lost to development every 30 seconds.

In response, members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) released the following statements:

“A community with a park is a community that can thrive,” said OAK founder and Sierra Club Outdoors for All campaign director Jackie Ostfeld. “Local green spaces allow neighborhoods to come together and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that only connections with nature can provide. We must work to ensure that those benefits extend to youth and families in all communities, improving the health, economies, and climate resilience of neighborhoods across the country.”

“Everyone deserves access to nature, parks and the proven benefits for mental and physical health that come with time spent outdoors,” said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “Y leaders in communities across the country are helping to get more young people and families outdoors for play, service, learning and leadership opportunities. I am grateful to OAK for recognizing them -- particularly youth leaders like Uriel Llanas, a YMCA Bold and Gold Program Coordinator, who is receiving the OAK Acorn Award this week. We all have a role in expanding access to the outdoors for young people, and the Y is committed to doing our part.”

“Our nation needs healing. Healing from a pandemic, social isolation, racial injustices, and so much more. Access to the outdoors provides a place for healing, connecting, and building more resilient children and families. Through OAK, we bring a unified, coordinated voice to advocate for policies and programs for youth and families to have regular, safe, and varied access to outdoor spaces and experiences,” said Monica Lopez Magee, Children & Nature Network Senior Vice President of Cities and Community Engagement. “This week, we celebrate leaders who are helping to make this possible and sync our efforts for collective action.” 

Vibrant and livable communities in America have ample green space near where people live,” said Paul Sanford, OAK Vice Chair and National Director of Recreation Policy at The Wilderness Society. “Access to the outdoors is a human right, and we should commit ourselves to working for a future where children and families can enjoy that right without leaving the neighborhoods where they live.” 

OAK Week Events Dates and Locations:

• OAK Week 2022 Kick-off: America the Beautiful: Connecting Youth with Public Lands & Waters Hike and Listening Session (See full details with map + parking here)

• Date: May 17, 2022

• Time: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

• Location: Rock Creek Park - Picnic Grove 13 Pavilion, Washington, D.C. 

• Description: Series of short hikes led by OAK member organizations, followed by a youth-focused session with the Biden Administration and members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids.

• OAK Awards Ceremony (See invitation flyer here) 

• Date: May 17, 2022

• Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM ET 

• Location: The Wilderness Society rooftop terrace at 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

• Description: An event honoring exemplary service by decision-makers, OAK members, and youth advocates in connecting kids to the outdoors. 

• • Awardees:

  • OAK Tree Award, honoring government champions:

  • Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) [Invited]

  • Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) [Invited]

  • Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA-47) [Invited]

  • Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-2) [Invited]

  • Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-R) [Invited]

  • OAK Acorn Award, honoring youth leaders:

  • Uriel Llanas, YMCA Bold & Gold Program Coordinator

  • Lily Kay, Every Kid Outdoors in State Parks champion

  • Wyatt Wilson, Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) Youth Leader, Navajo Nation

  • Jonna Brady, CNAY Youth Leader, Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara (MHA) & Sac and Fox Nations

  • OAK Leaf Award, honoring OAK members:

  • Alex Schaefer, Senior Legislative Representative, The Trust for Public Land

• OAK Advocacy Day 

• Date: May 18, 2022

• Time: 1:30 - 5:00 PM ET

• Location: Capitol Hill and the The Wilderness Society rooftop terrace
  (Option to participate on a virtual team)  

• Description: Virtual meetings with Congressional staff to advocate for OAK policy priorities: funding for Every Kid Outdoors, Outdoors for All Act, Transit to Trails Act, and the Civilian Conservation Corps.