Sec. Vilsack Boosts Support for Local Programs that Get Youth Outside
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced several new projects to help connect youth to the great outdoors. The announcement is good news for youth, who are part of a generation that is increasingly disconnected from nature.
The infusion of $1 million in local, cost-share funding will support children’s programs in 18 states and Puerto Rico, by way of Children's Forest programs and More Kids in the Woods projects.
Promoting Active, Outdoor Kids
The funding, which builds on long-term partnerships, will help connect to nature at least 25,000 more children who are not currently affiliated with these programs. Children's Forest and More Kids in the Woods support the goals of both President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Initiative.
With Secretary Vilsack’s announcement comes increased growth of Children's Forests in every U.S. Forest Service region. National forests designated to be Children's Forests will receive partnership project support to work with communities, kids and families, in order to expand mentorship programs, climate change education and career opportunities for youth.
Recipient projects of More Kids in the Woods include After School Kids in the Woods, Soccer Kids into the Woods and Youth Media Training in Alaska’s Children’s Forests. Projects funded in 2010 reached more than 15,000 young people.
The American Forest Foundation supports efforts to get kids outside and experiencing nature. Project Learning Tree uses forests as a window to the world, to help students of all ages learn about how our ecosystems work and why it is important we project nature.
Save the Date
Join us on May 21, 2011 for National Walk in the Woods Day. The nationwide event is part of the year-long celebration of the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Keep Reading
Read “America’s Great Outdoors: Our Nation’s Laboratory”, blog post by Frank Gallagher, Ph.D.
Read the full USDA press release, which details Secretary Vilsack’s announcement.
March 30, 2011 photo of Secretary Vilsack with Project Learning Tree students, staff and faculty from Barnard Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Credit: Chris Kleponis.
