WTA Kicks Off 2016 with Launch of Snowshoe Training

WTA's Chandrika Francis (kneeling) and participants from the first OLT Snowshoeing Workshop in January. Photo by Andrew Pringle

Originally published by Washington Trails Association

By pairing experiential workshops with access to a free gear library and mini-grants, WTA's Outdoor Leadership Training program supported more than 1,000 outdoor youth experiences on 45 trips in 2015.

The program's approach aims to fills in resource gaps for teachers and youth group leaders who want to lead incredible youth experiences in nature. This year, WTA has expanded the mix to support snowshoeing and backpacking.

When planning to lead youth outside, a test run is key

Last week, the first snowshoeing workshop kicked off on a wintry day at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park. Educators, ambassadors and program coordinators from Mount Rainier High School, YMCA, OneWorld Now!, Latino Outdoors, and Bastyr University joined WTA staff for the fun-filled day of learning and exchange. As snowflakes fell, participants learned what they'd need to know to plan their own independent snowshoeing trips for youth groups and families.

When asked what they found most useful about the brand new workshop, one participant reflected:

"It was experiential -- being out in the elements and actually doing a test run of the kinds of situations we could come across with our groups."

Huge thanks to Columbia, MSR, LEKI and KEEN for making it possible through generous gear sponsorship!

The new workshops will be in addition to the hiking and camping workshops already offered. Below are two new upcoming workshop dates to mark on your calendar. Be sure to register before they're full!

Backpacking Workshop
When: Friday-Sunday, July 8-10
What: A 3-day entry-level course that covers leading a backpacking experience with a youth group. ($60, scholarships available)
Where: North Cascades National Park
Register to join

Visit the Outdoor Leadership Training FAQ to learn more about what the OLT program does and how you can participate.

Save the Date: Outdoors Empowered Network 2016 National Summit

It's Official!

2016 National Summit in Chicago!!

NOVEMBER  3 - 4

REGISTRATION AND MORE INFO COMING SOON! 

Hosted by:  

The Forest Preserve of Cook County

• CONTACT

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Joins Outdoors Empowered Network

Chicago launches Camping Leadership Immersion Course to get kids outdoors

SAN FRANCISCO – January 25, 2016 – Outdoors Empowered Network (OEN), the largest national network of Member Organizations through which educators and youth leaders have access to wilderness training and free outdoor gear libraries, welcomes the Forest Preserve of  Cook County (FPCC), of Chicago, Ill., as the first member program in the Midwest. Chicago joins Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Boise, and Seattle in a growing number of cities with programs increasing much needed access to nature for youth. In 2015 alone, OEN’s programs have trained 318 youth leaders and empowered 10,000 youth participants to experience the outdoors through immersive backpacking and camping trips.

The FPCC is the first government agency and land manager to join the OEN, and is emerging as a national leader in the creation of programs to support their use by youth, families and community-based organizations. The Camping Leadership Immersion Course (CLIC), a program developed by the FPCC with support from OEN, provides a dynamic and affordable way to enrich the lives of young people through outdoor recreation and education. The goal of the CLIC program in the Chicagoland area, and that of the other OEN supported initiatives nationwide, is to provide outdoor experiences to youth who don’t often access public lands and overnight camping. 

“In 2015, the Forest Preserves of Cook County brought back public camping for the first time in fifty years with the opening of five new and revitalized campgrounds ,” said Arnold Randall, General Superintendent of the FPCC. “Despite being within the footprint of the third largest metropolis in the country, the FPCC manages more than 70,000 acres of natural land. Offering the CLIC program so close to an urban area is a valuable resource. Our partnership with OEN makes it possible for us to expose and immerse new and diverse audiences to camping, which can be a gateway to healthy and active living.” 

Read entire press release here.

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2016: Activism in the Outdoors

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is the “mecca of outdoor gear”.  It is North America’s largest winter sports industry gathering with over 22,000 attendees and every major player in winter outdoor gear. The event serves as a platform for companies to show off their hottest new products and grow their business, but it’s more than that.  Though they don’t bill it this way, Outdoor Retailer also exist as the place where companies connect with nonprofits and government agencies to engage in social and environmental movement building.  

With the National Park Centennial coming up this summer, the theme of “activism” was especially present throughout the show from the start.  During the Outdoor Industry Alliance (OIA) breakfast on the opening day, feminist author, conservationist and activist, Terry Tempest Williams gave a powerful keynote speech, poetically and emotionally urging outdoor retailers to find their activist roots.  

“It is not enough to see [public] lands as portals to recreation and retail, commodities and commerce. They open the door to awe and wonder and acts of the imagination that create hope for humanity.” - Terry Tempest Williams

Outdoor Industry Association’s CEO, Amy Roberts announced a Parks4Kids crowdfunding campaign to support the National Park efforts to get kids into their parks.  Meanwhile, companies were holding fundraisers at their booths to support organizations working to get kids outdoors. Big thanks to Nikwax for supporting BAWT, and to Adventure Medical Kits for raising funds through sales of their Thermal Bivvies for Outdoors Empowered Network!

One of the highlights during the show was the Climate Heroes panel discussion. Some leaders in the industry, including representatives from Vanity Fair Corporation (owner of many outdoor companies including  North Face, Jansport, Reef and Vans), Protect Our Winters (POW), Sierra Club and OIA shared their thoughts on climate change and the role of the outdoor industry and global manufacturers in the movement.  Panelists discussed different strategies for engaging companies, consumers and businesses in the struggle. Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, shared, “We’re in the fight of our lives.  We need all hands on deck. So regardless of who you are or what makes your heart sing , where your passion is, where you are in society, we need you to engage. We need institutions to engage.”

For Outdoors Empowered Network, this event is  critical for us to meet in person with current and potential sponsors who generously donate gear and funding to support Gear Libraries in programs across the country. Gear is an essential piece of the programmatic model we are advocating for in cities across the U.S. and we truly could not do our work with the support of our sponsors. Thank you to our Gear Sponsors and all those companies out there who are staying true to your “activist roots”.

Check out the Outdoor Retailer Dailies for more info and stay see what's coming up for Outdoor Retailer Summer Market August 3-6, 2016!