AORE Partner News November 2016 | Page 10

The Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) just wrapped up another successful annual gathering in Washington, DC. OAK is a national strategic partnership of organizations from diverse sectors with a common interest in connecting kids with the outdoors. The alliance brings together nearly 100 businesses and organizations, including AORE, representing more than 60 million individuals, to address the growing divide between young people and the natural world. OAK works across sectors and with multiple federal agencies to advance policies, initiatives and funding to get our kids outdoors in ways that improve education, community health and wellness and environmental stewardship.

Last week, members of OAK joined senior White House officials and agency partners for a convening at the White House on opportunities for youth to experience the outdoors. On the heels of the election, the convening was both an opportunity for members to celebrate our collective success to get kids outdoors during the Obama years, and to plan ahead for a new administration. During the annual gathering, the alliance also unveiled a new awards program, helped get DC fourth graders outdoors during an Every Kid in a Park event and visited members of Congress on Capitol Hill to educate them about the value of programs that get kids outdoors.

8

Photo credit: National Park Trust