THRIVE OUTSIDE GRAND RAPIDS

The Thrive Outside Grand Rapids Community is led by Our Community’s Children, a partnership of the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Public Schools; the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department; and a close set of initial partners in the Grand Rapids Environmental Education Network. Thrive Outside is kick-starting a comprehensive outdoor program for Grand Rapids youth to connect with nature, play outdoors, and serve as leaders in neighborhood and park projects that engage families and children. This initiative allows Grand Rapids to build on the foundation set forth through the Connecting Children to Nature initiative and brings to scale, through planning and partnerships, a citywide effort to engage children in nature. Grand Rapids works to engage kids of all ages with an emphasis on those in fifth through 12th grades. This investment leverages additional foundation support, and its opportune timing will pave the way for further public and private investment.

Key Focus Areas:

Gear Library, public-private partnerships, and school-based programming

Backbone Organization:

Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation

Steering Committee Partners:

Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Grand Rapids Environmental Education Network

Community Partners:

All Good Sports, American Heart Association, AYA Youth Collective, Bethany Christian Services – Bellaview, Bethany Christian Services – Bridgeway, Bethany Christian Services – immigrant and refugee program, Bethany Christian Services – Refugee Transitional Assessment Center, Bethany Christian Services – TLC, Bethany Christian Services main office, Blandford nature Center, Boston Square Neighborhood Association, Boys and Girls Club – Stiel Center, Burton Middle School GRPS, Center for Community Transformation, Cesar Chavez Elementary, Community Food Club, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, Eastown Community Association, Fit Kids 360, Friends of GR Parks Green Team, Girl Scout Troop #8159, GR Asian-Pacific Foundation, GR Environmental Services, GR Montessori, Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, Grand Rapids Parks Department, Grand Rapids Scouts, Grand Valley State University, Grandville Arts & Humanities – Cook Library, GRPS – GR Ford Academic Center, GRPS Summer School , Hudsons Fish Camp, JamesTown CRL, Kent County Probation – 17th district circuit Court, King Park Neighbors, KSSN – Cesar Chavez, KSSN – Harrison Park, Latina Network of West MI, Latino Outdoors GR , New City Kids, Our Community’s Children, Outdoor Afro, Premier Skate Shop, Ridgemoor Park PTA, River Rally, Secom, Shawmut Hills Elementary, Southwood Elementary, Stepping Stones Montessori, The Botanical Society of America, Wedgewood Christian Services, Wilderness Inquiry, Young Life