Thrive Outside: Oklahoma City

THRIVE OUTSIDE OKLAHOMA CITY

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.

Key Focus Areas:

Water sports including whitewater rafting and kayaking, Adventure Therapy Program, and biking and running programs

Backbone Organization:

RIVERSPORT Foundation

Steering Committee Partners:

OKC Parks & Recreation, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Latino Community Development Agency (LCDA), YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, Bike Club, OKC Public Schools Native American Services, and John Rex Charter School

Community Partners:

ASTEC, Bike Club, Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County, Bridges of Norman, Class Matters, Cleats for Kids, Course for Change, Crooked Oak Schools, Crossroads Youth and Family Services, Douglass HS, Eastside Wrestling Camps, FD Moon MS, First Serve, Freedom City / Thick Descriptions, It’s My Community, JD McCarty Center, Kidvation Global, MaComb 21st Century School, MetroTech, Millwood Public Schools, OKC Beautiful, OKC City Center, OKC Fury, OKC Parks and Recreation, OKCPD Fact Unit, OKCPS Athletic Director, OKCPS Native American Student Services, Oklahoma City Black Alumni Coalition, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Pivot, Police Athletic League, Positive Tomorrows, ReMerge, Scouting America, Stop the Violence, Sunbeam Family Services, Urban Bridge at Bridge Impact Center, USA Softball, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY PHOTOS

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Thrive Outside: Grand Rapids

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

Grand Rapids COMMUNITY PARTNERS

OUR COMMUNITY’S CHILDREN

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GRAND RAPIDS PARKS & RECREATION

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GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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GRAND RAPIDS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION NETWORK

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PLASTER CREEK STEWARDS

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FRIENDS OF GRAND RAPIDS PARKS

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GROUNDSWELL

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Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Outdoor Retailer Industry Lunch: Engage Into Action With The Outdoorist Oath

The recently announced “Outdoorist Oath” is a new way for ALL people to engage in supporting a thriving planet and thriving people. Watch our panel from Outdoor Retailer Snow Show 2022 to learn more about this action plan to advocate for the planet, inclusion, and adventure. This session provides an in-depth look at why The Oath is necessary and what the founders, Teresa Baker, Jose Gonzàléz and Pattie Gonia with support from their executive director, Gabaccia Moreno, are aiming to achieve through the Oath. Learn more about how you can engage with the Oath now and in the future.

Moderator: Jacob Fisher, Program Coordinator, Outdoor Foundation

Panelists:
Teresa Baker, In Solidarity Project Founder, Chief Trouble Maker and Oath Co-Founder
Jose Gonzalez, Founder at Latino Outdoors, Educator, Creative, Facilitator and Oath Co-Founder
Pattie Gonia, Professional Homosexual, Intersectional Environmentalist, Drag Queen and Oath Co-Founder
Gabaccia Moreno, Conservationist, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, and Oath Executive Director

Thrive Outside

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 THREE 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.

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CHICAGO, IL

Thrive Outside Chicago, 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. 

 

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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.

 

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SEATTLE, WA

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

 

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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. 

 

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THRIVE OUTSIDE INITIATIVE COHORT TWO COMMUNITIES

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.


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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 collectively create pathways for equitable access to the outdoors.


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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 for their region.


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TWIN CITIES, MN

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


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THRIVE OUTSIDE INITIATIVE COHORT ONE COMMUNITIES

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.

 

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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.


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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.

 

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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.


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THRIVE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PARTNERS

1:1 donation match from Thrive Outside Community organizations.

THRIVE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

GET IN TOUCH

 

LESFORD DUNCAN

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org

Thank You For Celebrating National Thrive Outside Day

Thanks to our community partners and participants, Thrive Outside Day events were a success nationwide! Communities in Atlanta, Grand Rapids, Maine, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis and Twin Cities celebrated the transformative benefits of the outdoors through activities ranging from outdoor programming and skill development sessions to social media takeovers. See highlights from each event below.

 

ATLANTA: November 13th

Hosted in partnership with the city of Atlanta, Thrive Outside Day was hosted at Cliff Park and coincided with the local Outdoor Rec Festival. Over 200 people were in attendance!

Learn more about Thrive Outside Atlanta

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS: October 11 and 16th
Grand Rapids celebrated its new Gear Share Library with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a day of outdoor activities and outdoor skill development using gear-share equipment from the library.
Learn more about Thrive Outside Grand Rapids

 

 

 

MAINE: October 9th
The Nature Based Education Consortium celebrated Thrive Outside Day virtually! They invited Mainers to share stories and pictures of the diverse ways they like to #ThriveOutside. See what they had to say and learn more about Thrive Outside Maine here.

 

 

 

OKLAHOMA CITY: October 2nd

Oklahoma City celebrated its Thrive Outside Day with kayaking activities, a Thrive Outside Kayak League race, nature-based activities and outdoor skill-development sessions.

Partners for the event and programming included RIVERSPORT Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County, Boy Scouts Last Frontier Council, OK State Parks, Scissortail Park and Threshold Climbing.  Learn more about Thrive Outside Oklahoma City

 

PHILADELPHIA: October 16th

Thrive Outside Greater Philadelphia partner Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership hosted National Thrive Outside Day 2021. Neighbors from the area gathered for a We Walk stroll on the Circuit Trail in Tacony Creek Park, a beautiful green space that follows the Tacony Creek on its way to the Delaware River. Participants bird-watched, looked for animal tracks, and learned about the trees that provide food and shelter for wildlife. After the walk, participants gathered over a healthy breakfast and enjoyed special outdoor giveaways.

Learn more about Thrive Outside Philadelphia

 

SAN DIEGO: October 9-10th
Hosted at Imperial Beach in partnership with US Fish and Wildlife, Thrive Outside Day in San Diego coincided with Walk for the Wild. Local youth participated in paddleboarding and leadership development events.

Learn more about Thrive Outside San Diego

 

 

ST. LOUIS: October 2nd
Hosted in partnership with Jack and Jill of America, the St. Louis Thrive Outside community embarked on a half-day canoe trip, culminating at the St. Louis riverfront in front of Gateway Arch National Park, where participants were greeted by local elected leaders.

Learn more about Thrive Outside St. Louis

 

 

TWIN CITIES: October 9th

Wilderness Inquiry, The Loppet Foundation and REI gathered to celebrate Thrive Outside Day on October 9th at Theodore Wirth Park – The Trailhead. Parkgoers were able to learn more about the Thrive Outside Initiative, and share their thoughts on the benefits of time spent in nature and how to best address the barriers that prevent equitable access to outdoor spaces and experiences.

Learn more about Thrive Outside Twin Cities

Thrive Outside: St. Louis

THRIVE OUTSIDE ST Louis

The Thrive Outside St. Louis Community, led by River City Outdoors, is activating a network of intersectional community partners – nonprofits, schools, youth service providers, health organizations, recreation providers, and corporate and governmental partners, to share resources and skills, and build a coalition to engage the St. Louis region in repeat and reinforcing outdoor experiences. With an emphasis on youth and marginalized communities, its goal is to address outdoor equity barriers and co-create positive outdoor experiences in order to foster better mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing in the St. Louis community and help create a city where outdoor recreation is accessible and embraced by all people. Key initiatives include catalyzing equitable outdoor programming, supporting the development of Action Adventure Clubs, and providing support for grassroots outdoor community groups.

Key Focus Areas:

Connecting youth and families to nature-based activities, Leveraging gear libraries and leadership training to strengthen and further develop a diverse community of well-resourced and skilled outdoor leaders in St. Louis, and building an Outdoor Equity Fund

Backbone Organization:

River City Outdoors

Advisory Board Partners:

River City Foundation, Terrain Magazine, Missouri Department of Conservation, Great Rivers Greenway, Trailnet, Missouri Environmental Education Association, The Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, Northside Community Housing Inc., Ujima STL, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri, and the Clark-Fox Family Foundation

Community Partners:

ARCHS, Bailey Youth Enrichment Foundation, Black Transcendence, Blueprint 4, Boys & Girls Club Adams Park, Bworks, Carnahan Public School, Cherokee Recreation Center, Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri, Confluence Academy, Old North, East St. Louis Lincoln Middle School, East St. Louis Youth Development Alliance, Explore STL Parks, Flance Early Learning Center, Forest Park Forever, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Fresh Thyme, Gene Slay’s Girls & Boys Club of St. Louis, Greenway Network Inc., Join Hands East St. Louis, LEAD STL, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, LifeWise STL, Lift For Life Academy, Little Creek Nature Area, Love the Lou, Marquette Recreation Center, Missouri Charter Public School Association, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper, Missouri Environmental Education Association, Missouri Master Naturalists, Missouri River Relief, Missouri Stream Team, MoBOT Garden’s Outdoor Youth Corps, Navigate STL Schools, North Newstead Association, O’Fallon YMCA, Open Space STL, Outdoor Foundation, Outdoors Empowered Network, Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis, River Management Society, Shaw Nature Reserve, Sherwood Forest, Sinai Family Life Center, South City YMCA, STL Youth Jobs, Swim on Foundation, The Legacy Center, The Village 314, Thomas Dunn Learning Center, Tower Grove Farmers Market, Unleashing Potential, Upper Limits, WreSTL

“By working with community organizations and partners across St. Louis, we can help strengthen our ecosystem of outdoor recreation. The goal is to change ‘I and me’ to ‘us and we.'”  Chris Geden, Thrive Outside Program Manager

“We’ve been working for the past seven years to accelerate the outdoor recreation culture in the St. Louis region through Terrain Magazine, and now with the launch of River City Outdoors, we’re excited to gather that momentum and truly transform St. Louis into a vibrant, inclusive, outdoor community. This grant, and the additional support and leverage that comes with it, will allow us to maintain the great momentum we’ve gathered and focus it on creating diverse and equitable outdoor programs in our region.” – Brad Kovach, Editor/Publisher of Terrain Magazine and River City Outdoors Advisory Board Member

Get In Touch

 

Lesford Duncan

Executive Director

lduncan@outdoorfoundation.org