Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Martin Heinrich and John Boozman today introduced the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act. The Every Kid Outdoors program, which began in 2015, grants all fourth graders free access to federal public lands, waters, and shores. The program is scheduled to sunset in 2026, but this extension would reauthorize it through 2031.
The Outdoors Alliance for Kids has been a longtime champion and advocate for the Every Kid Outdoors program. From September 3 through October 5, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids has organized the Every Kid Outdoors Month of Action to advocate for the program and get the passes in the hands of as many fourth graders as possible. Participating families can print out a voucher from EveryKidOutdoors.gov and redeem the pass in person. The latest cohort of students was able to pick up their passes starting this month.
In response, Outdoors Alliance for Kids members released the following statements:
“My son Dylan was born in 2015, when the Every Kid Outdoors program was first created. Now he is starting fourth grade and can’t wait to take the family on adventures to visit nearby and further away treasured landscapes and cultural sites,” said Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club Outdoors for All Campaign Director, and Outdoors Alliance for Kids Chair and Co-Founder. “Over 4 million fourth graders and their families will become eligible to participate in the Every Kid Outdoors program this year. Sierra Club is delighted to join our partners in the Outdoors Alliance for Kids to call on families, caregivers, teachers and youth-program providers to take advantage of this important rite of passage for our children so they can get outdoors, improve their health, and discover and learn about some of America’s most special places.”
“Over the past nine years, hundreds of thousands of children have been able to enjoy our public lands with the support of the Every Kid Outdoors program. This program has helped to introduce and facilitate outdoors adventures and experiences to these children and their families during a critical formative period in their lives. The Outdoors Alliance for Kids is eager to see this program continue to benefit families and communities for generations to come,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for Outdoors Alliance for Kids.
"Thank you, Senator Heinrich, for your leadership efforts to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act that will extend the Every Kid Outdoors program until 2031. The extended program will benefit the thousands of students we work with each year across the country in under-served communities by providing them increased access to our parks, public lands, and waters,” said Grace Lee, Executive Director, National Park Trust.
“At NatureBridge, we understand the incredible benefits of getting our young people into the outdoors for immersive experiences and that establishes deeper connections with nature. The developmental impact of outdoor programs and access to outdoor spaces on students, both academically and socially, are fundamental to our work as educators and is why programs like Every Kid Outdoors are critical to our mission,” said Phillip Kilbridge, NatureBridge President & CEO.
“What kind of a community would make it too expensive, too difficult, too unwelcoming for its children to explore natural beauty? Not ours. Which is why we strongly support this important act. Let's show our kids what adults are really made of,” said Ben Whitehouse, Sky Day Project, President and Executive Director.
"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) recognizes the impact that childhood experiences have in creating lifelong connections to nature. One of our top priorities is to improve access and breakdown barriers, especially for historically underrepresented groups in the outdoor recreation space by creating opportunities for new and diverse communities to experience the A.T. The ATC fully supports the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act, which helps remove these barriers and allows more families to experience our nation's treasured public lands," said Rachel Lettre, Appalachian Trail Conservancy Mid-Atlantic Regional Director.
“At Camp Fire, we believe that young people thrive when they are connected to the outdoors, others, and themselves. The more time young people spend outdoors, the more opportunities they have to experience the interconnectedness of life, to feel less lonely, and to care for other living beings. Knowing that one of the outcomes of this act will be a new generation of young people who feel belonging and connection in nature, Camp Fire is delighted to offer our support of the EKO Extension Act,” said Catherine Hubbard, Outdoor and Nature Programming Manager, Camp Fire.
“The Y is committed to fostering the next generation of conservationists and patrons of our nation’s public lands. Experiences that the pass makes possible can help kids develop an appreciation for the historic, cultural, and recreational value of our public lands, and can accelerate their growth as the next generation of stewards of these lands. When children and families visit our nation’s federal public lands, a new world outside of their home communities opens to them,” said Kayla Payne, Health Partnerships and Policy Specialist, YMCA of the USA.
“Getting kids outdoors to play and explore is a vital part of childhood and critically important to their mental and physical development. At KABOOM! our focus is on those close to home outdoor recreation opportunities, which we hope leads to more engagement with national parks and other public lands. The Every Kid Outdoor extension legislation Sen. Heinrich has introduced will provide an additional incentive to helping get kids outdoors. We want to thank the Senator for his leadership on this issue and for all he has done to promote greater access to outdoor recreation and activity,” said Lysa Ratliff, KABOOM! CEO.
“American Hiking Society applauds the introduction of the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act. Continuing this critical program that provides free public lands access to fourth graders across the country will introduce the next generation to outdoor recreation and foster lifelong service to and enjoyment of our most treasured natural resources,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director, American Hiking Society.
"As an OAK steering committee member, Justice Outside strongly endorses extending Every Kid Outdoors through 2031. This program fosters environmental literacy and equity by providing fourth-graders and their families access to public lands. We commend Senator Heinrich's passionate commitment to this initiative. Together with our OAK partners, we champion this cornerstone program for a more inclusive outdoor future," said Kim Moore Bailey, President and CEO, Justice Outside.
“Trust for Public Land applauds Senator Martin Heinrich’s leadership in championing the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act. Extending this program through 2031 will ensure that millions of young people, especially fourth graders, continue to experience the wonders of our public lands. This initiative inspires a lifelong connection to nature and nurtures the next generation of environmental and public lands stewards,” said a spokesperson from Trust for Public Land.
“The Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act is a commitment to equity in exploration, ensuring that every fourth grader, no matter their zip code, can discover the beauty and importance of our national parks, public lands and waters.It invests in the limitless potential of our children to learn, explore, and protect our natural treasures,” said Saanvi Sita Mylavarapu, founder of Nature Worthy.
The following OAK members have signed on to support the Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act:
American Camp Association, American Heart Association, American Hiking Society, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Avid4 Adventure, Camp Fire National Headquarters, Children & Nature Network, DC Bird Alliance, Justice Outside, KABOOM!, Kids Speak for Parks, Latino Outdoors, National Education Association, National Park Trust, NatureBridge, REI Co-op, Safe Routes Partnership, Sierra Club, SkyDay, Trust for Public Land, Washington Trails Association, The Wilderness Society, Winter Wildlands Alliance, YMCA of the USA
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.