Nationwide network mobilizes through event series to make outdoors more accessible and inclusive for all.
BOULDER, Colo. (October 5, 2021) — Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, today announced a nationwide series of events to celebrate National Thrive Outside Day on October 9th. Events will take place in each of the Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Communities, including Atlanta, GA; Grand Rapids, MI; the state of Maine; Oklahoma City, OK; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA; St. Louis, MO; and the Twin Cities region, MN. Events will be hosted from October 2nd through November 13th, with a national celebration occurring on October 9th. Learn about each of the National Thrive Outside Day community events here.
“National Thrive Outside Day is about celebrating the transformative benefits of the outdoors, and ensuring that everyone has equitable access to outdoor spaces and experiences. Nature is proven to provide countless benefits to individuals and communities, including better mental and physical health, positive youth development, and awareness and excitement for environmental stewardship. Thriving outside also means more opportunities to participate in community development and civic engagement efforts that support the systems change necessary to address the root of equity barriers,” said Stephanie Maez, managing director of the Outdoor Foundation. “And now more than ever, connecting to the outdoors is critical.”
“Access to the outdoors is essential for healthy, happy people and communities. Partnerships like our collaboration with the Outdoor Foundation allow us to help spark a lifelong love for the outdoors in kids from neighborhoods that have faced historic disinvestment,” said George Dusenbury, state director for The Trust for Public Land in Georgia. “We are pleased to host a Thrive Outside gathering in Atlanta’s Cook Park, an incredible new green space The Trust for Public Land brought to life alongside residents in a neighborhood that has ties to the Civil Rights Movement.”
“RIVERSPORT is excited to be part of the national Thrive Outside Day during the Oklahoma Regatta Festival. I am especially proud of the 40 Thrive Outside Kayaking League paddlers who will be participating in their end-of-season event,” said Melanie Borger, Senior Director of Corporate Engagement and Youth Outreach. “Immediately following the race, RIVERSPORT invites the public to the Thrive Outside Expo. Families will learn about such a wide variety of ways to connect with nature- close-to-home activities like fishing and beekeeping and state-wide recreation like camping and backcountry cooking. I am continually inspired by the kids in our Thrive Outside programs and the work of our network partners.”
The Thrive Outside Initiative is focused on reversing the trend of decreased outdoor engagement, by working at the grassroots level to empower communities in making outdoor recreation accessible to all. Through a collective impact model, supported by the Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside initiative, communities build a network of partners with a shared vision to provide positive, equitable opportunities for its youth, families, and community members to connect with the outdoors.
The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Communities would not be possible without the extremely generous support of: The VF Foundation, L.L.Bean, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Thule, Yeti, Wolverine World Wide, Inc, and Winnebago Industries.
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About Outdoor Foundation
The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, is a national 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to getting people outside for their health, the health of communities and the health of the outdoor industry. Through community investment and groundbreaking research, the Outdoor Foundation works with many partners to get more people outside more often. Visit outdoorfoundation.org for more information.
