THRIVE OUTSIDE INITIATIVE

The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative awards multi-year, capacity-building grants to diverse communities to build and strengthen networks that provide children and families with repeat and reinforcing experiences in the outdoors. This community-led initiative is built with trusted local and national partners and is supported by three years of funding. Together, we’re working to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all.

THRIVE OUTSIDE

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

WELCOME TO THRIVE OUTSIDE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA!
Thrive Outside Western North Carolina is increasing opportunities for outdoor engagement and career development while responding to the evolving needs of the community in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

THRIVE OUTSIDE INITIATIVE

COHORT COMMUNITIES

BOUlDER/DENVER, CO

Thrive Outside Boulder/Denver, works to connect underserved youth to nature and the outdoors through the Nature Kids/Jovenes de la Naturaleza Program.

CHICAGO, IL

Thrive Outside Chicago, led by The Nature Conservancy, brings together an existing network of partners dedicated to reducing barriers to the outdoors by increasing meaningful engagement opportunities everyone.

DETROIT, MI

Thrive Outside Detroit, led by YMCA of Metro Detroit and Detroit Outdoors, connects youth and families with outdoor recreation and nature by working with regional organizations and agencies to share resources and skills.

SEATTLE, WA

Thrive Outside Seattle, led by the King County Play Equity Coalition, brings together regional nonprofits, for-profits, government entities, and other networks to identify strategies for equitable access to outdoor spaces.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Thrive Outside Washington, D.C. Community is a network of organizations committed to maximizing the value of public spaces along the Anacostia River to residents of Ward 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia.

MAINE

The Thrive Outside Maine Community, led by the Nature Based Education Consortium (NBEC), is strengthening an existing statewide network of nonprofit, philanthropic, and business partners.

PHILADELPHIA, PA

The Thrive Outside Philadelphia Community, led by the National Wildlife Federation, is bringing together several regional organizations, stakeholders and existing large-scale networks to create pathways for equitable access to the outdoors.

ST. LOUIS, MO

The Thrive Outside St. Louis Community, led by newly created River City Outdoors, is activating a growing network of community stakeholders dedicated to making outdoor recreational opportunities more accessible and equitable.

TWIN CITIES, MN

The Thrive Outside Twin Cities Community, led by Wilderness Inquiry, is using community organizing techniques to coalesce a new diverse group of partners, helping families connect with the outdoors on the Mississippi River.

ATLANTA, GA

The Thrive Outside Atlanta Community is led by the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance together with a diverse network of partners in West Atlanta and along the Chattahoochee River.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

The Thrive Outside Oklahoma City Community is led by the OKC RIVERSPORT Foundation together with a broad-based network of partners infusing an active, outdoor lifestyle among youth.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

The Thrive Outside Grand Rapids Community is led by Our Community’s Children, a partnership of the City of Grand Rapids & Grand Rapids Public Schools & the Parks & Recreation Department.

SAN DIEGO, CA

The Thrive Outside San Diego Community, led by The San Diego Foundation, is strengthening an existing network of nonprofit, philanthropic, academic and government partners.