THRIVE OUTSIDE PHILADELPHIA

The Thrive Outside Philadelphia Community, led by the National Wildlife Federation, is bringing together several regional organizations, stakeholders and existing large-scale networks to collectively create pathways for equitable access to the outdoors. The effort builds upon the existing infrastructure of networks in the Delaware River Watershed (Alliance for Watershed Education, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed and the Circuit Trails Coalition) to amplify the work and move toward a more cohesive model of communication, partnership, programming and placemaking. The initiative will create 4-8 hubs that will be focused on developing specific strategies for removing barriers and coordinating activities geared at building youth engagement and repeat and reinforcing outdoor recreation.

Key Focus Areas:

Delaware River Watershed, hub model, and experiential water and trail programming

Backbone Organization:

National Wildlife Federation

Steering Committee Partners:

Alliance for Watershed Education, Bartram’s Garden, Berks Nature, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership, The Watershed Institute

Community Partners:

18th Wonder Improvement Association, Angelica Creek Watershed Association, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Berks County Earth Day Coalition Riverfront North Partnership, Berks County Parks Department, Blue Marsh Lake Army Corps, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club, Centro Hispano Reading, Circuit Trails Network, City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, City of Reading, Clean Air Council, Clean Water Fund, Delaware River Watershed Initiative, East Trenton Collaborative, Goggleworks Center for the Arts, Hay Creek Watershed Association, Howard’s Healthy Choices, Latin American Legal Defense and Environment Fund, Maiden Creek Watershed Association, Mercer County Hispanic Association, Mercer County Parks Commission, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Neighborhood Land Power Project, Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Ollin Yolitzli Calmecac, Olney Culture Lab, Our Fishing Log, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Philadelphia Orchard Project, Philadelphia Water, Philly Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Reading Climate Corps, Reading Public Museum, RISE, Spring Point Partners, Tacony Creek Park Keepers City of Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Trenton Area Stakeholders, Trenton Green Team, Tulpehocken Creek Watershed Association, Westminster Presbyterian Church Barrio Alegria