February 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 24

ADVOCACY

Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook
Helps Get More Kids Outside
By Sarah Bodor

awmakers across the United States are increasingly aware that
playing and learning outdoors are critical for children's health,
well-being and academic success. They also recognize that nurturing the next generation's connection to the natural world is
tied to the future of their states' outdoor economies and natural resources.
Indeed, the research is clear: regular access to outdoor education and recreation makes kids happier, healthier and smarter. But for far too many, these
critical experiences and opportunities are rarely, if at all, available. Increasing systemic and equitable access to outdoor engagement and education
will require new or shifting investments and strengthened partnerships. The
good news is that promising policies are popping up across the country,
which may offer a roadmap for success.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF YOUTH OUTDOOR POLICY PLAYBOOK

The recently launched Youth
Outdoor Policy Playbook (youth
outdoorpolicy.org) shares bipartisan policy initiatives and resources to support statewide efforts to
increase youth engagement in the
outdoors. Sharing the knowledge
and experience of outdoor engagement and education champions
drives replication and scaling-up of

existing state initiatives, as well as
fosters new and innovative ideas.
" The Youth Outdoor Policy
Playbook is an invaluable resource
for legislators who want to support
youth outdoor engagement, " says
Maryland State Delegate Dana
Stein. " Engaging youth in all kinds
of outdoor experiences - be they
parks, playgrounds or other green

A Framework for Successful
Youth Engagement
At the heart of the Youth Outdoor
Policy Playbook is a framework,
informed by a shared understanding that a high-quality state policy
should be child-centered, familyfocused and multigenerational; prioritize equitable access for all; leverage multiple approaches for systemic change; be locally supported and
culturally relevant; and reflect the
latest research on what works.
The framework is organized
around three areas of opportunity
to strengthen youth engagement in
outdoor education and recreation
- outdoor learning opportunities
and environments, outdoor access
and connectivity, and systemic environmental literacy and education.

Research
shows that
regular
access to
the outdoors
makes kids
happier and
healthier.

Parks & Recreation

spaces - is critical to improving
the health, happiness and education of youth. "
The Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook was designed by a national
coalition that includes the Children
& Nature Network (childrenand
nature.org), National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (ncel.net),
North American Association for
Environmental Education (naaee.
org), Outdoors Alliance for Kids
(outdoorsallianceforkids.org) and
Meridian International Institute
(meridianinstitute.org). Together,
these organizations are working across
sectors to advance policy ideas that
ensure all children have access to highquality outdoor experiences and environmental education.

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February 2020 - Parks & Recreation

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