military-outdoors

April 9, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congress voted to pass the bipartisan House Outdoor Recreation package, Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The package, co-sponsored by Reps. Bruce Westerman and Raúl Grijalva, expands or supports efforts to expand outdoor access.

Highlights from the EXPLORE Act include:

January 16, 2024

The recently introduced House Outdoor Recreation package, Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Bruce Westerman and Raúl Grijalva, is a bipartisan win for outdoor access. The House will engage in markups for the bill tomorrow.

November 30, 2023

Yesterday Reps. Bruce Westerman and Raul Grijalva introduced the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a House Outdoor Recreation package that includes legislation such as the Military Veterans in Parks Act.

November 30, 2023

Yesterday Reps. Bruce Westerman and Raul Grijalva introduced the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a House Outdoor Recreation package that includes legislation such as the Outdoors For All Act, Military Veterans in Parks Act, and also reauthorizes the Every Kid Outdoors program.

November 27, 2023

Sierra Club Military Outdoors is launching a listening session series in concert with an online survey to create an opportunity for veterans and active-duty servicemembers to share their needs and experiences, and to help shape future legislation that affects them.

May 1, 2023

After two years, Sierra Club Military Outdoors is transitioning leadership of the New York Outdoor Rx Coalition to the Sierra Club’s Atlantic Chapter.

November 8, 2022

Washington, D.C. – The Department of the Interior announced today that the previously publicized lifetime pass for veterans to access federal recreation sites, including the National Parks, will officially be available on Veterans Day.

October 12, 2022

Denver, COLORADO – Today, the White House announced its newest protected public land, the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, along with a 20-year mineral withdrawal for approximately 225,000 acres of the Thompson Divide to ensure the land remains protected. The monument would encompass 53,804 acres, including the historic Camp Hale and Tenmile Range.

September 27, 2022

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans, with the goal of reporting on and making recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans.

August 29, 2022

For five nights in a row, starting today, National Geographic is airing a PSA from First Lady Jill Biden as part of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative, which supports military families. This PSA serves as a reminder for the military community of their free entry into all national parks.

August 22, 2022

This week, Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program will be featured on the latest episode of Tango Alpha Lima – a popular podcast produced by The American Legion. Among the topics covered were nationwide efforts to expand veterans access to nature.

April 27, 2022

This week, the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and others officially launched the Outdoor Rx Coalition, a first-in-the-nation partnership for improving veterans health through nature-based therapies on public lands and waters. The new partnership will examine barriers preventing New York veterans from accessing public lands and waters to heal from service-related trauma, boost the availability of effective outdoor programs, and facilitate communication between State agencies and the many organizations serving veterans.