The Outdoor Foundation urged the federal government to engage youth and schools more and increase green spaces in urban neighborhoods in a report it submitted Wednesday to the Obama Administration. The Outdoor Nation Special Report on America's Great Outdoors, an outcome from the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit held on June 19-20, 2010 in New York City's Central Park, offers five top recommendations to the President, including:
- Engage, Employ and Empower Youth by working with Outdoor Nation and its community of Outsiders.
- Engage Youth in the Outdoors during the School Day by collaborating with the Department of Education and local school leadership to engage school children in outdoor learning opportunities and active time outdoors at school.
- Increase the Number of Safe and Accessible Green Spaces, particularly in low-income communities with significant health disparities, by eliminating park, playground and natural space desserts where they exist.
- Support Close-to-Home Outdoor Recreation by providing resources to parents and caregivers that help address the barriers to allowing unstructured outdoor play.
- Strengthen Outreach to New Audiences at all relevant agencies by integrating 21st Century communications tools such as mapping devices, iPhone applications, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other tools that will increase the visibility of our parks and natural spaces.
“This Special Report for President Obama represents some of the best ideas and recommendations for protecting America's great outdoors,” said Christine Fanning, executive director for The Outdoor Foundation.
In June, more than 500 youth from across the country came together to participate in the first ever Outdoor Nation Youth Summit. Hosted by The Outdoor Foundation, the Youth Summit brought together young 'Outsiders' to champion the outdoors, and served as a listening session for President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative.
