Thrive Outside Day 2022: A Nationwide Celebration

Thanks to our community leaders, partners, and participants, our 2022 Thrive Outside Day events were an overwhelming success! Read below to learn how Thrive Outside Communities across the country celebrated our collective work to address equity barriers and ensure the outdoor experience for all.

 

ATLANTA:

Thrive Outside Day in Atlanta was hosted on November 12 at Rodney Sr. Cook Park in partnership with The Alliance for The Activation of Cook Park. With various outdoor activities to participate in, from mountain biking to a park scavenger hunt, Atlanta really got to see and feel what Thrive Outside is about. Learn more about Thrive Outside Atlanta.

“This was such a beautiful event, it reminds me of field day when I was a kid” — Old Fourth Ward community member

“It is so refreshing to see Black faces advocating for outdoor play and education for our youth.” — Old Fourth Ward community member

“Thank you for allowing us to learn more about your organization through this event. We can’t wait to partner with you all.” — Amphibian Foundation

 

CHICAGO:

The Nature Conservancy sponsored Organic Oneness’ (OO) Be the Healing: Reparations Conference to celebrate Thrive Outside Day in Chicago. The conference explored innovative approaches to reparations including restoration, repair, and healing at the individual, community, and institutional levels, inclusive of policy changes. Over the course of three days, Dr. Joy DeGruy and Dr. Bahia addressed the historical harm and trauma of racism and colonization through an inspirational and solution-oriented global lens. Chicago community leaders led community tours addressing various ways reparations are being carried out within the ecosystem of their neighborhoods. By addressing racism, trauma, and healing as a collective, Chicago will be more successful in decreasing risk factors and increasing protective factors within education, employment, general health, family structures, and community networks. Learn more about Thrive Outside Chicago.

 

DETROIT:

Thrive Outside Detroit welcomed the Wilderness Inquiry Canoemobile to town October 10-12 to celebrate Thrive Outside Day. Youth and their families participated in a paddle on local waters with Wilderness Inquiry staff as well as a range of fun and educational land-based activities. Local partners such as Belle Isle Nature Center, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), Friends of the Detroit River, Detroit Outdoors, Friends of the Rouge River, and US Forest Service Urban Connections all pitched in to help students experience Belle Isle, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and DPSCD’s own Camp Burt Shurly. Learn more about Thrive Outside Detroit.

“They can have this powerful experience and then want to come back to this park with their family,” Dempsey says. “They might be the one that says, ‘Hey, let’s go down that trail. I actually know what’s down there. Let’s go see this beaver lodge that’s down there because I did that when I was here last October.’ So they can become the leaders for their friends and their family when they come to this park because they’ve got this relationship with this park.” — Garrett Dempsey, program director of Detroit Outdoors

“There is so much research that supports not only that kids being outside and enjoying nature allows them to bridge connections to what they’re learning in the classroom, but also just from a personal development perspective—for them to have an opportunity to go out of their comfort zone. It’s so formative in their development.” — Monica DeGarmo, teacher at the Academy of the Americas

 

GRAND RAPIDS:
Thrive Outside Days kicked off on September 24 with an open house at the gear library. Three additional events were hosted in October focusing on building community, especially in the neighborhood around the gear library. Activities included camping workshops, music, gear library tours, kayaking demos, bonfires, and walking local trails. Learn more about Thrive Outside Grand Rapids.

 

MAINE:
The ECO-BIPOC Thrive Outside Day Maine event was hosted on November 19 at Bradbury Mountain alongside The Third Place. Attendees shared joy, built connections, and hiked together. In addition, the Thrive Outside Maine community sent free State Parks passes to over 235 BIPOC individuals and organizational leaders in Maine, to acknowledge the barrier of cost and the community commitment it takes to overcome it when it comes to access to outdoor spaces in Maine. Through their partnership with Outdoor Foundation as well as The Third Place, Bureau of Parks & Lands, Maine Initiatives, Leonard C. and Mildred F. Ferguson Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy, Thrive Outside Maine is taking action to support access to nature for people of color in Maine, in addition to working on broader systems-change efforts. Learn more about Thrive Outside Maine.

“Nature is critically important to my worldview, my relationship with natural ecologies, and how I live my life. Being in Nature has allowed me to surmount intense obstacles in my life, from growing up in poverty, to stress relief from coping with constant racism and othering to the benefits of being active and maintaining better health. The reality for many Indigenous people in Maine is that a significant number of us still live close to the poverty line or below it. While I understand that park fees are necessary to fund maintenance, if we don’t have programs like yours to support access, we are excluding those who may need it most because they don’t have the resources to vacation in beautiful places, or to travel just for enjoyment. I remember growing up, the only state parks I went to were for school trips. We didn’t have vacations, and if we went to visit Nature it was on the river or at a local lake or pond that was free to access. I never went skiing, kayaking, or sailing. I went to a kid’s camp once, because it was subsidized by a church. And of course, I was required to follow church rules, even though I was Indigenous. We should not have to be indoctrinated into a religion just to get a chance to go to summer camp.” — Mihku Paul

“Being away from home and family is quite hard. Nature connects me to experiences that I had when around the family or activities we used to do. The beach, the trees, the birds…” — Manuel Cruz

“I am at peace and tranquility when walking in nature.” — Hana Tallan

 

OKLAHOMA CITY:

Thrive Outside OKC celebrated Thrive Outside Day all month long in conjunction with RIVERSPORT’s Outdoor October initiative. Events included the Oklahoma Regatta Festival, Biketober, Dogtober, and the Red Coyote Half Marathon. Partner organizations included USRowing, Yukon BMX, Country Roads Animal Rescue, and Red Coyote Running & Fitness. Activities included rowing races, kayak races, family bike rides, BMX races, SUP with your pup, and a half-marathon. Learn more about Thrive Outside Oklahoma City

 

PHILADELPHIA:

Thrive Outside Day Philadelphia was hosted by The Schuylkill River Greenways, Berks Nature, and the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) on Saturday, September 24. The event included a bike ride on the Circuit Trails’ Schuylkill River Trail and an outdoor education event at the turn-around location, Berks Nature’s The Nature Place environmental center in Reading, PA. Learn more about Thrive Outside Philadelphia.

 

SAN DIEGO:
Thrive Outside San Diego hosted a series of Thrive Outside Day events throughout the month of October. Event activities included hikes, mountain biking, yoga, gardening, camping, and more. Thrive Outside San Diego’s steering committee member, the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation, also launched the Experience the Outdoors campaign, which is designed to address equity barriers so that everyone can experience the outdoors. Learn more about Thrive Outside San Diego.

“There’s something so special about starting your day, stretching, and finding balance in a park. The fresh air, the birds singing, even the buzzing of the bees. It just puts your body at ease, and I can’t wait to come back!” — Marie, workshop attendee

“I volunteer to do trail maintenance in the other part of the preserve, but it’s always nice to stop here, say ‘hi’ to the rangers, and see what they put out on their table. It’s hands-on, but I learn a lot just by listening in.”  — Jose, youth volunteer

“It was great to entertain so many excited kids and to see parents reliving their youth. It’s an educational experience that’s also a ton of fun.” — Kyle Icke, Supervising Park Ranger

 

SEATTLE: 

Thrive Outside Day Seattle was celebrated on October 28. More than 30 outdoor recreation organizations, including Washington State Parks, the Service Board, and Braided Seeds, convened to discuss current issues and access barriers to the outdoors, and highlight the great work already happening in this space. This convening was held in preparation for the launch of the Outdoor Recreation Action Team in early 2023, which will build and strengthen the network of diverse organizations focused on outdoor access and equity. Learn more about Thrive Outside Seattle.

 

ST. LOUIS:
River City Outdoors celebrated Thrive Outside Day St. Louis in collaboration with Thomas Dunn Learning Center, the Marquette Recreation Center of the City of St. Louis, Connections to Succes, and The Youth Violence Prevention Council. The block party event took place in Dutchtown, which has some of the highest rates of violent crime in St. Louis and is in the footprint of Cure Violence, a violence prevention program that has been introduced to the city in hopes to calm the neighborhood. Streets were shut down to traffic and the fire Department was also there engaging the community. Non-profit agencies engaged the community and shared about the services they provide. Children and their families enjoyed face painting, a bounce house, games, dancing, and arts and crafts projects that they could take home with them. The highlight of the evening was a group of local street performers who danced and did some amazing fire-throwing tricks. Learn more about Thrive Outside St. Louis.

“This is what community looks like.” — Event participant
“Let’s do this every year.” — Event participant

TWIN CITIES:

Twelve local outdoor organizations hosted Twin Cities Thrive Outside Day on October 8 at Boom Island, located right on the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The event celebrated the transformative benefits of the outdoors while engaging Minnesotans to build community and ensure that everyone has equitable access to outdoor spaces and experiences. Participants enjoyed canoeing, urban birding, mountain biking, hiking with plant identification, youth Zumba, fishing, fire building, and equipment demonstrations. Learn more about Thrive Outside Twin Cities.

“I was able to talk to attendees about recreational opportunities on federal lands and the programs available for getting youth and those with permanent disabilities in parks and forests.” — Partner agency

“It was great to connect with the other organizations at the event. I thought the networking was excellent. Looking forward to hopeful collaboration in the future.” — Partner agency

“Oodles and oodles of fun. We went out on the water, and it was fabulously calm and the trees looked fabulous” — Event participant

WASHINGTON, D.C.: 

On Saturday, October 29, members of the Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative and Washington, D.C. Thrive Outside coalition partnered to engage Ward 7 and 8 youth and families in a day-long celebration of family, nature, and the harvest season. This event was co-planned with community input and included a pumpkin and turkey giveaway, Trunk or Treat, and live music featuring Bela Dona, an all-girl, local favorite Go-Go band. Other activities included fishing, boating, skating, and seasonal craft-making. The overall goal of the day was to activate stressed DC residents in safe, meaningful outdoor engagement in Anacostia Park. Learn more about Thrive Outside D.C.

“This is an awesome way to end the season with the community.” — Event participant

“I am so happy I came down here, I did not even know this park was here” — Event participant

Thrive Outside: Seattle

THRIVE OUTSIDE SEATTLE

The Thrive Outside Seattle Community, led by the King County Play Equity Coalition is bringing together regional community partners made up of nonprofits, for profits, government entities, and other networks to collectively identify strategies for equitable access to the outdoor space as well as strengthen existing outdoor-oriented programs. The region is unique in its proximity to mountains and water that encourage outdoor recreation and active lifestyles, but for youth, particularly youth of color and low-income youth, finding ways to get to the mountains is a challenge. Seattle has the opportunity to take action and provide more equitable access to and higher quality of recreation opportunities for all youth. The aim for Thrive Outside Seattle is to build upon existing networks and programs to create an active, dynamic, representative action team that centers the voices and expertise of BIPOC leaders and organizations. The goal is to remove barriers and increase participation in the outdoors for youth and families of color.

Key Focus Areas:

Cross-sector collaborations, youth and BIPOC-leadership, urban to nature pathways

Backbone Organization:

King County Play Equity Coalition

Steering Committee Partners:

Washington Trails Association, the Nature Project, Y.E.T.I., the Service Board, Sweetlines

Community Partners:

African Housing and Community Development, African Sport Federation , Afroswimmers, Associated Recreation Council, Bike Works, Braided Seeds, Cascade Bicycle Club, Chill Foundation, City of Bellevue, City of Burien, Find Your Peak Sports, First Five Years and Beyond, Friends of Pathways Park, Girls on the Run, Khmer Community of Seattle King County, King County Parks Department, King County Public Health, Liberated Health and Wellness, Oshun Swim School, Outdoor Childhood Puget Sound, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Parks and Rec, Seattle Sake Paddle Club, SOS Outreach, Splash Forward, Sweetlines, Swim Seattle, The Nature Project, the Service Board, Trust for Public Lands, Wakuliima USA, Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, Washington State Parks, Washington Trails Association, YETI, YMCA, YMCA Bold and Gold

 

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Thrive Outside: Washington D.C.

THRIVE OUTSIDE 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. The network recognizes the importance of community-based and civic organizations and the value of parks and outdoor experiences in addressing social justice, health, employment, respite, and other issues impacting economically stressed communities.

Thrive Outside D.C. works to provide a forum for local leaders to strategize more deeply and identify joint projects, this includes resources for community groups for operational resources like communication, coordination, and grant writing support, and physical resources like event and meeting supplies. 

The goals of the network include ensuring that D.C. youth and residents in Ward 7 and 8 are safe and have access to the Anacostia River and parks. This includes building the capacity of social and environmental organizations to lead meaningful park experiences that increase collective power-building through on-the-ground outdoor experiences and connect private, city, and government agencies to the community in a more meaningful way.

Key Focus Areas:

Social justice, health, employment, respite, and other issues impacting economically stressed communities

Backbone Organization:

Friends of Anacostia Park (FoAP)

Steering Committee Partners:

Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative. Anacostia Coordinating Council, Making A Difference (MAD), Soul Track

Community Partners:

Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS), Bread for the City, Center for Non-Profit Management, Chocolate City Bike Club, DC Attorney General’s Office, DC Environmental Film Festival, Earth Conservation Corps, Martha’s Table, Metropolitan Police Department, Opportunities for Deserving Children (ODC), United Planning Office

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Thrive Outside: Detroit

THRIVE OUTSIDE Detriot

The Detroit Parks Coalition is an alliance of community members and parks leaders working together to support healthy, equitable & vibrant parks in Detroit.

Key Focus Areas:

Their work supports park: Restoration, Enhancement, Programming,  Recreation, Natural preservation through partnership, and Support for place-based park stewardship organizations.

Backbone Organization:

Detroit Parks Coalition

Steering Committee Partners:

Belle Isle Conservancy, Chandler Park Conservancy, Clark Park Coalition, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Friends of Patton Park, Friends of Rouge Park, Midtown Detroit, Inc., People for Palmer Park, Sidewalk Detroit, O’Hair Park Community Association

Community Partners:

City of Detroit, Connect 313, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Police Department, Detroit Public Library, Detroit Public Schools Community District

Community Photos

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Thrive Outside: Boulder/Denver

THRIVE OUTSIDE Boulder/Denver

Thrive Outside Boulder/Denver works to connect underserved youth to nature and the outdoors through the Nature Kids/Jovenes de la Naturaleza Program, which is active in Lafayette Colorado, and expanding its reach to Boulder, Longmont, and Denver with support from the Outdoor Foundation.

Key Focus Areas:

Pre-k to high school, backyard to backcountry, and family-integrated environmental education and outdoor recreation programming Backbone

Backbone Organization:

Thorne Nature Experience

Steering Committee Partners:

City of Lafayette, City of Boulder, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, Calwood Education Center, Cottonwood Institute, CU Science Discovery, City of Longmont

Community Partners:

Avid4Adventure, Brujula, Boulder County Housing and Human Services, Boulder County Open Space, Boulder Housing Partners, Boulder Valley ICO, Boulder Valley School District, Casa de la Esperanza, Centaurus High School, City of Boulder FRS, Eco Arts Connections, EcoCycle, Explorando Senderos, Garden to Table, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Growing Gardens, I Have a Dream Boulder County, Jax Mercantile, Keystone Science School, Longmont Community Foundation, Longmont Youth Center, Medicine Horse, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, Safe Routes to Schools, St. Vrain State Park, St. Vrain Valley School District, Wish for Wheels, YMCA of Boulder Valley

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Thrive Outside: Chicago

THRIVE OUTSIDE Chicago

The Thrive Outside Chicago Community, led by The Nature Conservancy, is bringing together an existing network of partners dedicated to reducing barriers to the outdoors by increasing meaningful outdoor engagement opportunities for youth and adults in Chicago. Our partners are focused on youth-centered environmental education, growing food in community gardens, environmental justice, environmental stewardship and citizen science in green spaces, community wellness, and health, and providing outdoor engagement opportunities to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and all other sexualities, sexes, and genders (LGBTQIA+) and other groups that have been historically excluded in outdoor programming. The goal of this network is to foster outdoor experiences to create passionate outdoor enthusiasts.

Key Focus Areas:

Community engagement, citizen science, outdoor activities in forest preserves, green spaces, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, health and wellness, and environmental justice

Backbone Organization:

The Nature Conservancy

Steering Committee Partners:

Asian Climbing Collective, Black People Outside (BPO), Chicago Adventure Therapy (CAT), Chicago BIPOC Birders, Chicago Climbs, Faith in Place, Latino Outdoors Great Lakes, Outdoor Color Crew, Queers on the Rocks

Community Partners:

All Things Through Christ Outreach Ministries (ATTCOM), Chicago Community Arts Studio, Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT), Chicago Park District, Chicago Prairie Tennis Club, Chicago Tool Library, Climb Big Chicago, Envision Unlimited, Escala, Feminist Bird Club, Friends of Big Marsh, Girls in the Game, Light of Loving Kindness, Maxwell Street Community Garden, One Family Illinois (formerly SOS Children’s Villages Illinois), Out Our Front Door, Outdoor Asian Chicago, Papalotzin Healing Collective, PODER, Project Impact 180, South Side Nature Play, U.N.I.O.N. Impact Center, We Keep You Rollin’, We Strive for Change, West Lawn Conservation Club, Young Men’s Educational Network (YMEN)

 

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Participation News

PARTICIPATION News

PARTICIPATION news

Thrive Outside: San Diego

THRIVE OUTSIDE San Diego

The Thrive Outside San Diego Community, led by The San Diego Foundation, is strengthening an existing network of nonprofit, philanthropic, academic and government partners such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, County of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department, Outdoor Outreach, YMCA of San Diego County and the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. This network is working together to increase meaningful outdoor engagement opportunities for children and families with the support of the Thrive Outside grant. San Diego’s network partners work not only to provide outdoor experiences for the community but also to expand outdoor amenities. The goal of this network is to make the outdoors part of the fabric of the lives of children and families in the San Diego region, especially South County where one in seven residents live in poverty and have limitations to accessing the outdoors. By highlighting outcomes associated with outdoor engagement, San Diego leverages Thrive Outside funding to raise additional funds to improve the quality of life for San Diego children and families.

Key Focus Areas:

Ocean and mountain activities, collaboration with San Diego County Behavioral Health Initiative, local and state advocacy to address equity barriers, youth and BIPOC leadership development, (e.g., Leaders for Outdoor Equity)

Backbone Organization:

The San Diego Foundation

Steering Committee Partners:

Outdoor Outreach, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, YMCA of San Diego, University of San Diego Nonprofit Institute, County of San Diego Parks and Recreation, and Parks California

Community Partners:

BIPOC Support Foundation, Botanical Community Development Initiatives, City Heights Community Development Corporation, Coastal Roots Farm, Earth Discovery Institute, Groundswell Community Project, Groundwork San Diego – Chollas Creek, Horn of Africa, La Maestra Foundation Inc., Living Coast Discovery Center, Ocean Discovery Institute, Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center, Outdoor Outreach, San Diego Canyonlands Inc., San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Parks Foundation, SAY San Diego, The EcoLogik Institute, Un Mar De Colores, Urban Surf 4 Kids

SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY PARTNERS

THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION

LEARN More

US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

READ MORE 

YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY

READ MORE 

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

READ MORE 

OUTDOOR OUTREACH

READ MORE 

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PARKS AND RECREATION

READ MORE 

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org