Sierra Club named Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Stacy Bare as the new director of Mission Outdoors, its initiative to connect people with the outdoors. Bare first joined the Sierra Club Mission Outdoors team to expand the Military Families and Veterans Initiative, a program within Mission Outdoors that ensures opportunities for those who served our country and their families to experience the freedom of the land they defended. With this promotion, Bare will lead the Sierra Club’s effort to connect all people with the outdoors through direct programming, public education and advocacy.
Mission Outdoors combats the growing divide between Americans and the outdoors by increasing opportunities for all; in addition to veterans and military families, this includes urban youth who otherwise may never experience the joy and wonder of exploring the natural world. Together, these programs engage more than 250,000 people in outdoor experiences each year and train thousands of volunteer leaders across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
“Stacy’s outstanding contributions to the Sierra Club's military program helped us create opportunities to connect with nature available to the men and women who risk their lives to defend our country and our wild places,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “Now, in his new role as Director of Mission Outdoors, Stacy will play a critical role in expanding the conservation movement and supporting the Sierra Club's mission of ‘explore, enjoy and protect.' As with all the work he has done for the organization, Stacy will bring fresh energy and passion to Mission Outdoors to ensure that everyone across the country has access to meaningful outdoor experiences.”
Bare received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Baghdad as a Captain in the US Army. After his service he completed his Masters in City Planning and Urban Design at the University of Pennsylvania. During that time he struggled with severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Bare credits his turnaround to rock climbing it was climbing and time spent outside that allowed him to rebuild his life.
“Life experience has left me believing in the healing power of time spent in nature,” said Director of Mission Outdoors Stacy Bare. “Access to our nation’s outdoor spaces and wild places around the corner and across the country ought not to be exclusive. I look forward to leading the Sierra Club’s Mission Outdoors program and ensuring that access to nature is available to anyone who wants and needs it. ”
More information on Mission Outdoors can be found at www.sierraclub.org/missionoutdoors.
