The North Face's Explore Fund awarded $250,000 to more than 100 projects that will expose 85,000 young people to the outdoors. The grants are part of the inaugural commitment of The North Face Explore Fund, administered by the Outdoor Foundation.


The North Face originally announced the Explore Fund program in June at the first ever Outdoor Nation Youth Summit in New York City, asking nonprofit organizations to submit their applications. Hundreds of grant applications requesting more than $400,000 in support were received.


 

 

In California's Bay Area, winner include: Bay Area Wilderness Training (Oakland), Golden Gate Audubon Society (Berkeley), Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy( San Francisco), Student Conservation Association (Oakland), and Youth Enrichment Strategies (Richmond). These programs will provide a variety of opportunities, including environmental education, an outdoor children’s planting project, an outdoor youth ambassadors program, and mountain biking.

 

Organizations that were awarded funds in the Colorado area include Big City Mountaineers, Choose Outdoors, CitiWild, Colorado Mountain Club, Environmental Learning for Kids, and SOS Outreach. These programs will provide a variety of opportunities including a girls’ wilderness program, a youth leadership summit, mountain biking, and environmental education. 

 

The awards comes as The North Face along with industry partners, including the Outdoor Foundation, have worked to reverse a decline in outdoor participation among American youth.  Over the past three years the participation rate of youth ages 6 to 12 fell almost 20% for girls and 10% for boys, according to research released last week by the Outdoor Foundation.

 

Declining youth participation in outdoor activities has been identified as a threat not only to the outdoor industry but to the conservation movement, which has historcially relied on individuals with a strong connection to and an understanding of natural systems and recreational landscapes.

“We are committed to educating and inspiring passion for the outdoors through enabling outdoor activity,” said Steve Rendle, President of The North Face and VF Outdoor Americas. “I met many young leaders at the first ever Outdoor Nation held in NYC this past June where we first announced our financial commitment to support community based outdoor non-profit organizations. We’re thrilled to support these incredible groups that work so hard to provide outdoor education and experiences but may lack necessary funding.”


Funds were granted to organizations throughout the U.S. that work to break down barriers to getting youth outdoors within three focus areas:



  • $66,000 Access to front and back country recreation
  • $62,000 Education for personal and environmental health
  • $117,500 Connection to nature that will empower the future leaders of tomorrow

Grantee programs range across season and activity and will begin late October 2010. For more details, grantee highlights and ongoing updates, please visit www.planetexplore.com/explorefund.