Hello, hello! 

I hope everyone's having a great start to the year! With us just about at two years of the pandemic, I'm so appreciative of you, OAK's members, partners and supporters, for all of your continued support and advocacy for OAK's mission. We've managed to accomplish so much, and I'm looking forward to another great year as a partnership - including at OAK Week 2022! Speaking of... 

OAK Week 2022 is May 17 -18!

OAK Week is a once a year opportunity to network with other OAK members, recognize champions in the field, help shape OAK's campaigns, and make our collective voices heard in the halls of Congress. Participation in OAK Week is free to attend and welcome to OAK members, prospective members,  partners, and supporters. 

Be sure to mark the date on your calendars and REGISTER! 

Note: We hope to make this OAK Week a hybrid virtual and in-person/outdoors experience. The registration form is collecting your thoughts on this. We will announce a final decision on March 15 to accommodate any travel plans. 

National League of Cities / Children & Nature Network
CCCN City Assistance Opportunity 

The Cities Connecting Children to Nature partnership of National League of Cities and Children & Nature Network just released a CCCN Early Childhood Nature Connection: City Assistance Opportunity. Cities in partnership with local early childhood providers and organizations may apply to for assistance in bringing nature’s benefits to young children, ages 0-5. Selected cities will receive 18 months of technical assistance. Applications are due March 18, 2022 with an info session to be held on February 14, 2022, 2-3:30 PM ET; register here. 

Note: The Children & Nature Network is also gearing up for their annual conference, Inside Out! Inside Out will be the week prior to OAK Week - May 9 through 12 in Atlanta, GA. Learn more and register here. 
 

National Recreation and Park Association
NRPA Equity and Language Guide

NRPA has developed an Equity Language Guide, a glossary of terms to help park and recreation professionals develop a common language around diversity, equity and inclusion. It also provides guidance to help people become familiar with terms they may not be aware of and best practices for making writing accessible. 
 

Sierra Club
Op-Ed in the Denver Post

Read a great op-ed by Chris Hill, Associate Director of the Sierra Club's Lands, Water, Wildlife Campaign, on why "Derogatory names have no place on our natural national treasures." 

Your OAK Federal Policy Action team (PAT) is working incredibly hard to stay apprised of all of the many moving pieces. With the Build Back Better Act still held up, focus is on the FY22 Appropriations process. With COVID-19 continuing to take its toll on the mental and physical health of children and families, it is absolutely critical that Congress work together to pass an omnibus FY22 appropriations bill that expands equitable access to the outdoors.

OAK, like many partnerships, is putting together an organizational sign-on letter urging Congress to avoid a continuing resolution (CR), or a continuation of the FY21 budget, which would keep us at the previous funding levels. This would be incredibly disruptive to the youth and family outdoor access field.

Please join us in telling Congress to pass an omnibus budget that invests in youth and family outdoor access! Sign on to OAK's letter by 12:30 PM ET, Friday, February 4. 

Note: Organizations do not need to be an OAK member to sign on, so please share with your networks!