BOULDER, Colo. (Sept. 9, 2026) — The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), today announced the launch of 2026 Thrive Outside Day, kicking off a month of free, community-led outdoor events and programming across the country that will reach an expected 4,000+ participants. Thrive Outside Day is officially recognized on October 10, with the full activation window running September 26-October 31. From surfing in San Diego to rock climbing in the Midwest, roller skating in DC to hiking in Atlanta, 15 Thrive Outside communities are hosting more than 25 events for kids and families.
This year’s campaign carries the tagline “Dozens of local outdoor events. One national movement. We all Thrive Outside,” reflecting an approach that pairs hyper-local programming with a single, unified moment of national recognition.
“Thrive Outside Day is about more than getting outside for a day — it’s about building a future where every young person has the opportunity to develop a lifelong connection with the outdoors,” said Lesford Duncan, Executive Director of the Outdoor Foundation. “That future starts in communities, with local leaders who understand their young people, their neighborhoods, and the places that make them unique. By investing in their leadership and connecting their work through a national movement, we can turn thousands of individual outdoor experiences into something much bigger: a generation that knows the outdoors is a place where they belong.”
The campaign responds to a real and growing challenge. According to OIA’s and OF’s 2026 Participation Trends Report, outdoor outings among youth ages 6–17 have dropped 26% since 2012, as screen time increasingly displaces time spent outside. Cost, gear access, transportation, confidence, and a sense of belonging all keep families from participating — barriers that trusted local organizations are uniquely positioned to help overcome.
The Outdoor Foundation empowers the next generation of outdoor participants by expanding access, strengthening community-led outdoor ecosystems, and helping every child and family build lasting connections outside. Multi-year, capacity-building grants help partners build and strengthen networks that deliver repeat, reinforcing outdoor experiences. In 2025, the foundation and its network of more than 600 partner organizations, schools, and agencies reached more than 972,000 children, youth, and families. Roughly two-thirds of those partners also engage youth in environmental conservation and stewardship.
Community Events Bring the Campaign to Life
More than 25 Thrive Outside Day events are taking place across the country this year:
In Atlanta, a network of four partner organizations is hosting a full month of events that encapsulates the variety and value of programming offered by Thrive Outside Communities. West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) is kicking things off Sept. 26-27 with the WAWA Westside Campout, an overnight experience featuring tent setup, s’mores, guided hikes, African storytelling, and a live drum circle from the Eguma Drum & Dance Company. On Oct. 1, the network comes together for a citywide Collective Celebration of forest activity stations, macroinvertebrate sampling, tree identification, and nature crafts, in partnership with the City of Atlanta Parks & Recreation afterschool program, Metro Atlanta Boys and Girls Clubs, and Grove Park Foundation Youth. The activity comes to a close on Thrive Outside Day, Oct. 10, with WAWA’s third annual Westside Chattahoochee Paddle, an 11-mile guided kayaking journey down a culturally significant stretch of the Chattahoochee River.
In Chicago and the greater Midwest, the events open Sept. 26-27 with Midwest Rock ‘N Routes, a weekend rock climbing and camping festival built for historically marginalized communities and supported by an extensive partner network, including BIPOC Beta, Adaptive Climbing Group, Escala, Latino Outdoors, Queers on the Rocks, the Asian Climbing Collective, Climb Big Chicago, Chicago Climbs, and the American Alpine Club. Chicago Adventure Therapy then leads three more events with the Chicago Park District, Openlands, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County: a community paddling and climbing day at Beaubien Woods on Oct. 3, a paddle along the African American Heritage Water Trail on Oct. 11, and a community climbing and paddling day at Steelworkers Park on Oct. 17.
In Pittsburg, a series of community-centered outdoor experiences are designed to connect young people and families with adventure close to home. Activities include the Wild Path Outdoor Festival, a two-day celebration October 3–4 at Boyce Park and Action Park featuring climbing, running, BMX, skateboarding, and other hands-on outdoor activities for all ages and skill levels. Thrive Outside Pittsburgh is also partnering with Pittsburgh Public Schools to host Thrive Outside Field Days, creating opportunities for students to experience outdoor recreation, build confidence, and discover new ways to get active outside. Together, these events showcase the power of schools, community organizations, and outdoor partners working collectively to make outdoor experiences more accessible and welcoming for Pittsburgh youth and families.
In San Diego, youth storytelling will be center stage, giving young people meaningful opportunities to learn, explore, and connect outdoors. On October 10, Framing the Outdoors, presented by San Diego Foundation in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education and Media Arts Center San Diego, will showcase short documentaries created by youth fellows who spent the summer filming with outdoor nonprofits across the region, featuring film premieres, filmmaker Q&As, and awards celebrating their work. In addition, Thrive Outside program partners Outdoor Outreach, California State Parks, The Preuss School UC San Diego, and Nature Collective will bring approximately 240 7th and 8th grade students to San Elijo Lagoon and Cardiff Seaside State Beach for two days of beach exploration, surfing, ocean play, and educational hikes, building connection to nature, confidence, and a sense of belonging outdoors.
In Washington, D.C., Friends of Anacostia Park is hosting a large-scale celebration on Oct. 24 that brings together free roller skating lessons, nature-based arts and crafts, boat rides and fishing on the Anacostia River, and a live Go-Go band with additional cultural programming, alongside community health, wellness, and environmental education stations. The event is a partnership with the Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative, the Anacostia Watershed Society, the National Park Service, and more than a dozen other community organizations.
These are just five of the 15 communities hosting Thrive Outside Day programming this fall, with others including a stargazing celebration in Boulder-Denver to a group paddle down the Penobscot River with the Penobscot Nation in Maine. A more comprehensive list of community events is available at www.outdoorfoundation.org.
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to see the outdoors as a place where they belong — a place to explore, learn, create, and discover what they’re capable of,” said Heather Rossetti, Assistant Director of Environmental Initiatives at the San Diego Foundation, and lead for Thrive Outside San Diego. “That’s what makes Thrive Outside Day so powerful. Across San Diego, our partners are creating experiences that range from a student’s first time playing in the ocean to young filmmakers telling their own stories about what the outdoors means to them. Together, these moments show what’s possible when a community comes together around young people — and we’re proud to join the Outdoor Foundation and communities across the country in making those opportunities possible for more youth.”
“We witness a lot of magic when people experience the outdoors in restorative ways,” said Akiima Price, Founder of Friends of Anacostia Park & Lead Practitioner of Restorative Park Engagement. “At Anacostia Park, that might be a first boat ride, skating, fishing, music, or simply having a positive place to be. It’s a big deal for stressed communities to have access to safe spaces, especially natural, open spaces where they can sit, laugh, and spend time with people who care about them. Those moments of joy, culture, connection, and ease matter. They support well-being in ways that feel natural and familiar. Thrive Outside Day is another chance for people to come outdoors, feel welcome, connect, and be part of something. We’re grateful to the Outdoor Foundation for helping lift up this work.”
Community members can find a local Thrive Outside Day event, volunteer with a partner organization, or support the Outdoor Foundation directly at www.outdoorfoundation.org. Families and supporters are encouraged to share their own Thrive Outside story using #ThriveOutside and #ThriveOutsideDay, and to follow @OutdoorFoundation on Instagram and Facebook.
About the Outdoor Foundation
The Outdoor Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, with a mission to empower the next generation of outdoor participants by expanding access, strengthening communities, and mobilizing a community-driven outdoor ecosystem. Through multi-year, capacity-building investments and partnerships, the Foundation supports locally led efforts that connect more children, youth, and families to the outdoors and build lasting pathways for participation, belonging, and stewardship. Learn more at outdoorfoundation.org.
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting — and growing access to — the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.
