Today, the Biden Administration relaunched the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR), an interagency effort to make access to the outdoors safer and more affordable. FICOR’s focus areas will include investing in resilient recreation infrastructure, bolstering career opportunities, improving equitable access to the outdoors, and more.
This week, 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…
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Tuesday May 17, a group of youth environmental leaders will be joined by officials from the Biden Administration for a day of outdoor activity in Washington’s Rock Creek Park to call for greater youth access to nature. The event, which includes hikes and a listening session with decision-makers from the Biden Administration, is the highlight of OAK Week 2022, a week of advocacy in support of eliminating the nature equity gap, sponsored by the Outdoors Alliance for Kids.
The National Park Service’s invested $61 million in critical urban parks and green space projects in 26 cities across the country. The grants were awarded through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program. $61 million is the most funding ever awarded through the ORLP program. The projects supported include the construction of new parks, the rehabilitation of riverfronts, and the construction of downtown greenways and multi-use trails.
Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee began its mark-up of a major outdoor recreation legislative package, which includes the Outdoors for All Act. If passed, the Outdoors for All Act would permanently authorize the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, which is the only program administered by the Department of the Interior to promote the development of equity-focused parks and green space projects in urban communities. The committee is expected to send the bill to the full House in the coming days.
The annual National Park Week returns from April 16–24. The event celebrates national parks and historical sites and encourages everyone to get outdoors and explore the history, culture, and landscapes of these lands and waters. Many national parks are increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, including the shrinking of glaciers and snowpacks, warming temperatures that displace native wildlife, and increases in the populations of invasive species. These trends demonstrate why we must protect more lands and waters to address the climate crisis and increase access to the…
Today, the Biden Administration announced the America the Beautiful Challenge, a $1 billion initiative to accelerate land, water, and wildlife conservation efforts across the United States. The initiative will be based on a public-private partnership to be administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supported by an initial commitment of $440 million of federal funding.
With its scientifically proven benefits to physical and mental health, one solution to the national youth mental health crisis is to encourage youth access to nature and the outdoors. Multiple studies demonstrate nature can help relieve depression and anxiety in youth, and even help heal their traumas, with positive effects on physical and mental health, boosting concentration, improving social skills and even helping kids perform better in school.
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 access, including support for programs to protect community forests; develop parks and save green spaces in urban neighborhoods; and eliminate barriers preventing children, youth, and families from accessing public lands and waters.
The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) sent two letters to Capitol Hill on Monday calling for members of Congress to pass the Environmental Justice for All Act and a proposed outdoor recreation legislative package being considered by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.