Learning
If tasked with naming the qualities of a good leader, we could all probably come up with a sizable list: Committed to the cause. Excellent communicator. Team player. Forward-looking. Honest and full of integrity. Seeks to empower others. Positive role model. And so it goes. But how do we provide opportunities for young people to develop these very same qualities, and how do we support...
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Learning
Sure, the days are shorter and the temperatures are cooler, but the winter months are still an amazing time to offer outdoor programming. Need some inspiration to get started? We pulled together a range of information to help you plan and prepare for winter outings, from safety tips to program ideas. PREPARING FOR WINTER OUTINGS Just as with any other time of year, the key...
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Uncategorized
The arrival of September means a lot of things: The end of summer, the beginning of fall, a return to classrooms, a cool-down in temperatures (well…depending on where you live) – and a brand new year of the Every Kid in a Park initiative. Read on to find out how you can use this free national program to help provide more young people with access...
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Learning / Partners
Whether you’re leading a small group of teenagers on their very first backpacking trip or guiding a university climbing club on an advanced mountaineering adventure, you’ll likely need to obtain a special use permit in order to execute the trip if it occurs on U.S. Forest Service lands. While applying for a permit might seem daunting, we want to help demystify the process, which has...
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Learning / News / Partners
If you’re reading this, chances are you not only enjoy spending time outside, but you also feel that there are both physical and mental benefits to doing so. The question, then, is how do we quantify these benefits so that we can advocate for more outdoor programming, more funding for outdoor initiatives, and more equitable access to outdoor spaces? The great news is, there are people...
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Learning
So, you feel like you’re out there doing good work – but how do you actually measure and prove that you’re doing good work? By creating a theory of change, a tool that will help define your program or organization’s overall strategy for creating a positive impact. WHAT EXACTLY IS A THEORY OF CHANGE? A theory of change is an organizational tool that will help you...
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Learning / Uncategorized
Are you interested in building an outdoor program at your school, in your community, or within an existing organization? Consider these four steps a starter kit that will help you understand what it takes to develop curriculum, build partnerships, recruit participants, and launch a successful outdoor program. DEVELOPING A CURRICULUM Most programs begin with a great idea, but the most successful programs also begin with...
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Learning / Tech Tip
Most of us would probably rather spend our workday out in the field instead of glued to a computer. Even so, digital media can offer an incredibly useful toolkit to help support the work we do outdoors, so it’s worth learning how to harness its power for good. Here, we offer some tips and tricks to help you navigate the digital waters. ASSESS YOUR CURRENT...
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Learning
If you enjoy spending time outside, chances are your bookshelves are already stuffed with environmental tomes and tales of outdoor adventure. We suggest you add to that collection with these must-have books relevant to anyone who works with youth outdoors. BOOKS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Whether or not you work in a traditional outdoor education setting, these books will help strengthen your knowledge base and inspire...
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Learning
As we approach the year’s end, many people are already looking forward to 2018, thinking about what personal goals they might hope to achieve: picking up a new hobby, saving for a big vacation, or perhaps simply getting outside more. Just as you look inward when the new year approaches, it’s a great idea to also reflect on your organization, program, or project to see...
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