Eastside Prep

Kimberly McMorrow is a lawyer.  But her real passion isn't law, its connecting high school kids to nature.  And she's been doing it for close to ten years.  Kimberly volunteers multiple weekends every year to take students from East Palo Alto's Eastside Prep High School camping; on the beach, in the redwoods, and early this summer, to Tahoe National Forest.  

In this video you get a chance to see young people shine, as they do in no other setting, outdoors, under the stars, with each other, without screens, in lakes fed by snowmelt, creating memories to last a lifetime. 

Kimberly makes these trips happen because she was trained by Bay Area Wilderness Training, and now has access to geat to outfit the students.  Our Bay Area Program Affiliate is on its way to another 7,000-youth-outdoors year.  Nice work BAWT! Nice work Kimberly! 

The White House! And keeping my feet on terra firma

It's been a busy and exciting month! It began when I was honored to be invited to the White House as a nominee Champion of Change—Engaging the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders.

The White House and the event cast a spotlight on the importance of getting kids outside. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell continues to impress. She reiterated her plan to connect 10 million youth to the outdoors through four initiatives: Play, Learn, Work and Serve Outside. Secretary Jewell began her speech by saying "my favorite classroom is a room where there are no walls, the outdoor classroom!"

After my trip to D.C., I headed to Chicago to talk to potential partners including Chicago Wilderness, an impressive regional alliance that connects people and nature in three states around Chicagoland.  We have also been talking to great people in Madison, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; and Boise, Idaho. Make sure you follow our Twitter and Facebook feeds to keep up to date on where we’re headed next. 
 

Keeping my feet on the ground in the outdoor classroom was my goal when I co-taught the Frontcountry Leadership Training for Bay Area Wilderness Training last month. It was such a joy to once again be outside teaching, with staff and volunteers from Oakland Parks and Rec, Seven Teepees and Outdoor Afro. 

Participants gained the skills needed to borrow equipment and safely get youth and families outdoors. We even had another Network Program Affiliate—The Washington Trails Association, join us from Seattle for the beautiful weekend in Tilden Park's Wildcat Campground. 

Finally, I'm happy to announce the Network's new and very experienced Program Director, Jill Greenblatt. Jill has been a lead instructor with Bay Area Wilderness Training since 2001, previously served as the organization’s Program Director, and later on its Board. She also worked with two foundations focused on services and higher education access for low income, first generation, and foster youth.  Please welcome her! 

Happy Spring! 

Kyle Macdonald
Founder and Executive Director
Outdoors Empowered Network

Outdoors Empowered Network is building a movement to ensure that all kids gain the benefits of the outdoors!

 

The White House. Part 1

Subject: INVITATION: White House Champions of Change for Engaging the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders

"That can't be right" was my first thought when I saw the email with that INVITATION title in my inbox. This must be some huge event that is open to the public and will be attended by people who live in Washington, D.C......if it isn't spam.  The event was less than two weeks away, and the email didn't even have a personal salutation to me on it.  Well, after a few phone calls I discovered that this was NOT a joke.  This was real, and I had better buy a plane ticket, and a new suit, and go.  Read more about the White House Champions for Change Program. 

So it is with great surprise and humility that I share with you that I have been nominated for The White House Champions of Change Award for my work in getting youth outdoors.  The event is this Tuesday, March 18 from 9:00 am to noon.  I'm not sure what to expect exactly, but I'm sure it will be enlightening and exciting to connect with others who share our goals of connecting the next generation to the outdoors.  

I would not have received this honor without your interest and ongoing support, and want to share the experience with you be live tweeting from @OENetwork and posting pictures after the event (assuming they don't take our phones!) 

Stay tuned, and thank you for getting kids outdoors!