Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Raising the Bar

Olympia, WA

Yesterday in Olympia, Washington, Washington State Parks held the first advisory meeting to put in place the Leave No Child Inside grant program
http://www.parks.wa.gov/NoChildLeftInside/
The program was established through the Sierra Club led effort in passing HB 1677 'The Leave No Child Inside Act' in early 2007 through the Washington State legislature http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1677
The advisory committe which I am Vice Chairman of is made up of a diverse mix of professionals ranging from the NAACP, educators and REI the equipment retailer www.rei.com The commitment in the room was remarkable as all of the committiee members share the same goal of making sure that we use the $1.5 million in the bill to get children outside. I know this sounds simple but there is so much growth in the 'Leave No Child Inside' movement but Washington is the first state to step up and get the money out the door to programs that are getting children outside. The funds will go to a diversity of prograsm from 4-H to Boys and Girls Clubs. It is so gratifying to see how so many different entities came together in Washington to help connect thousands of children with the outdoors.

In Los Angeles last week, Buildng Bridges to the Outdoors helped sponsor the third annual Crenshaw Survivor Challenge in which a hundred young people got to experience their first night under the stars at Ken Hahn State Recreational Area in the middle of urban Los Angeles. We are so proud to support Crenshaw as the Eco Club which is now the largest after-school program at the school continues to grow and prosper. Here is a great story on the night
http://www.lawattstimes.com/articles/2007/10/25/community/community4.txt

Building Bridges to the Outdoors is partnering with the Children and Nature Network www.cnaturenet.org and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ to hold on Tuesday, November 27th, The Leave No Child Inside Forum in Concord, New Hampshire. The forum will feature, Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and will engage a variety of professionals from educators to developers in how we can work together to come up with common sense community based solutions to get children outside. Here is a link to more information on the event and more information on the New Hampshire Children in Nature initiative http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ChildrenInNature/index.htm

I will leave you with a wonderful story in this month's Sierra Magazine on a BBTO grantee John Muir Elementary School's trip to Islandwood School on Bainbridge Island in Washington. Both programs are BBTO grantees and show the value of partnerships. It is inspiring!
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200711/johnmuir.asp