"Meeting all the passionate and smart people from across this country who are working hard to get people outside in ways that are safe and culturally appropriate through revisioning systems of engagement."
- Grant Armour, Three Rivers Park District, MN.
How could you not be inspired by passionate and smart people? The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) hosted our first East Coast Summit last month to resounding compliments. Twenty organizations were represented from 11 states as this year's event also turned out to be our biggest gathering to date. We made progress on our Best Practices, and really substantial gains in growing our knowledge base, and sharing what we've been learning as we used Open Space Technology, and a one day ticket set up, to allow local non-member organizations an opportunity to join, share ideas, and participate in eight separate break out groups discussing site-based program (like those in Detroit and Chicago); diversity, equity and inclusion, and family-based programming where the whole family is involved in camping skills training. And most of all, we connected to each other, renewed our friendships and met some new people, all of us dedicated to connecting the next generation (and ourselves!) back to nature. Thanks to The Wilderness Society, Mountaineers Books, Mountainsmith, Leki, Osprey, GSI Outdoors, Alite Designs, and especially the AMC's YOP Staff, all who made this year's summit a huge success!
Part of the Summit takes the Cardigan Summit! More photos!
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Maine is a YES, California is a NO, for now.
Departments of Outdoor Recreation are now in at least Nine States. With the great state of Maine amongst the newest- read more here- to add someone within state government to focus on the benefits i.e. good health, thriving economic sector, outdoor recreation brings to communities. California, on the other hand, saw it's now departed governor Jerry Brown, veto a bill that would have created an office in the state. OK Gavin Newsom, we'll see you soon!
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Detroit Outdoors Wins OAK, Leaf Award
Detroit Outdoors (on a roll!) was recognized this week by the Outdoor Alliance for Kids for their amazing work of forging collaboration, and bringing camping to the City of Detroit! Full Press Release
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Support the Network this Giving Season!
With the election season now over, we're looking for your support so that we can continue our work, grow our capacity, and spread what we're learning to even more communities in 2019.
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