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Washington
The State of Washington is full of biological diversity and majestic natural places. From mighty Mount Rainer to the Olympic Coastline and the praries on the eastside. Washington offers its young people abundant places to explore the natural world. Unfortunently, too many children never see these natural places.
Building Bridges to the Outdoors is committed to giving every child in the Evergreen State an outdoor education experience. Building Bridges to the Outdoors will accomplish this goal by working with a diverse set of partners to build a network of interests who promote the benefits of outdoor education as well as sponsoring exemplary outdoor education programs. Working together no child will be left inside.
>> See the results of a Sierra Club sponsored Environmental Education Study
Washington becomes a leader in leaving no child inside! Visit the Washington State Parks No Child Left Inside Page and find out about the progress of this groundbreaking initiative.
On Saturday, April 21, 2007 (John Muir's Birthday), Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the 'Leave No Child Inside Act' (HB 1677, Quall D-40). The Leave No Child Inside Act establishes a program in State Parks in which schools, after-school programs and community organizations will have the ability to apply for state funds to get underserved children outside.
The Sierra Club's Building Bridges to the Outdoors program and Cascade Chapter led a diverse collation, including the Audubon Society, Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI), Woodland Park Zoo, the Washington Association of Principles and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to pass this landmark legislation.
The Sierra Club will also sit on the advisory board of the State Parks program. The passing of the act displayed the strong commitment that Washington State's legislators have to giving all children in the state an outdoor experience. It has, furthermore, put Washington squarely at the front of the national "leave no child inside movement."
Martin LeBlanc, National Youth Education Director for the Sierra Club explains, "The Leave No Child Inside Act will undoubtedly connect young people to nature, who otherwise wouldn't have such opportunities, and in turn create the next generation of citizens who appreciate and enjoy the natural wonders of this state. The Sierra Club is proud of its role in leaving no Washington child inside."
Find out more:
Rich Louv talks about the Sierra Club's efforts in Washington to give every child an outdoor education experience.
Partners:
Environmental Education Association of Washington (Olympia, WA)
Gonzaga- EarthBound (Spokane, WA)
IslandWood (Bainbridge Island, Washington)
John Muir Elementary School (Seattle, WA)
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (Portland, OR)
Olympic Park Institute (Port Angeles, WA)
Spokane ICO (Spokane, WA)
For more information, contact:
Lori Stutz, Youth Grants Coordinator
206.378.0034 x303, lori.stutz@sierraclub.org