Privilege, 100 feet Up a Tree
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In that opening, welcome speech the kids were told “You’ll climb a tree, 100 feet off the ground”, and I couldn’t get it out of my head as I drove south, away from Mt. Shasta, and towards the city.
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The Outdoors Empowered Network Blog is a great way to keep up with our work!
Amanda was our Summer Champion!
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There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you made a direct positive impact on the lives of people in your community through your hard work!
Read MoreChicago Park District is a GO!
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With a forecast of 41°F, rain and wind (perfect hypothermia weather), this Californian in the Chicago mix was a little worried that the crew we had signed up for the first ChicaGo Explorers Front Country Leadership Training might not brave the elements to join us. Instead, 16 youth workers, parks and rec staff, community activists, social scientists and teachers showed up with smiles and true Midwestern grit. Over the next two days together on Northerly Island, a hidden gem of the Chicago Park District in Lake Michigan, we shared skills, strategies, and tips to support the vision of all to connect Chicago’s youth with the outdoors.
What the Chicago Park District is beginning through the ChicaGo Explorers Program is no small thing. As one of the nation’s largest park districts, they are making an important statement that we can go beyond basketball and yoga in our parks. As part of the program, the Park District has launched a gear library, creatively housed in a shipping container on Northerly Island, which contains gear that will be used by these trainees to get youth outdoors. Gear is one of the main obstacles keeping many youth from camping. This Gear Library will provide high quality apparel, sleeping bags, tents, etc, that will enable youth to camp under that Milky Way – most of them, for the first time.
Outdoors Empowered Network is thrilled to have supported the Chicago Park District in launching this new program!
Big thanks to Therm-A-Rest and local REI Stores for supporting the effort!
Gear Library Webinar Recording is Live!
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Founder of Outdoors Empowered Network (OEN), Kyle Macdonald, recently shared the train and support model that OEN seeds and supports around the country during a TYO webinar. Missed it? No problem. Watch and share the recorded webinar below to learn about the advantages and challenges of a network approach that is leveraging collaboration to get over 10,000 youth outdoors annually. Also hear more about what you can do to bring this program model to your community.
Additionally, you can access the presentation deck here.