2012, a Recap

The movement and practice of connecting America with our public lands and open spaces had quite a year. We began by changing our name, and integrated several programs (Building Bridges to the Outdoors, Inner City Outings, Local Outings and Military Families and Veterans Initiative,) under one glorious umbrella: Mission Outdoors. We said goodbye to our founding director, and gained a new one. We are looking forward to 2013 to building on the success of all of those who work so hard to get people outside in nature. Here’s a look back at what we all accomplished this year:

Over 12,000 young people got out in nature through our Inner City Outings programs all around the country. They visited Christmas tree farms and petting zoos, played a role in protecting a national treasure in the Midwest – the Hackamatack - hiked mountains and valleys and camped out for the first time. They led pledges to bring more bike lanes to communities and traveled to Washington, DC, to meet their Congressional representative. At a local level, we worked to pass a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights in New Mexico. Thank you to our volunteers and agencies who make up Inner City Outings!

Thousands of military families and veterans enjoyed all the beauty that our public lands have to offer. From working with University of Michigan researchers to examine the effects of the outdoors on mental health to funding ice climbing trips for veterans to measure climate change at Glacier National Park, our military program was out there all year. Thousands of children participated in Celebration of the Military Child Outdoors events all over the country. Hundreds of service members and veterans climbed, rafted, participated in outdoor leadership training and took part listening sessions to tell us about their experiences about the outdoors. Learn more about our military work. 

On the national front, Mission Outdoors had a very busy year. We spent a lot of time at the White House, participating in conferences, celebrating Champions of Change and honoring women in the environment. We walked the halls of Congress during Great Outdoors America week with a delegation of Sierra Club outings volunteers, educating members about our work to connect America with the outdoors. We also worked with our Baltimore ICO Chair to bring a delegation of 75 high school students from Baltimore to meet with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes to discuss the importance of getting youth outdoors, and take an urban hike across Washington, DC. We weighed in on environmental education and environmental justice at national forums. We helped champion efforts to ensure military servicemen and women could visit our National Parks and public lands and we weren't quiet when the Senate GOP blocked passage of the Veterans Jobs Corps Act which would have provided conservation jobs for our nation's heroes. And last but not least, we saw OAK (Outdoors Alliance for Kids) grow to include over 50 national organizations all committed to work together to get kids and families outdoors.

Lastly, hundreds of thousands of people, from all over the country, including Modern Family’s Nolan Gould, not only got outside to enjoy nature, but played a major role in protecting and preserving by going on local outings and participating in service projects. Volunteers with Potomac Region Outings prepared for months to hike the C&O canal – a one-day 62 mile for some. Outings leaders from North Star Chapter in Minnesota led outings via public transit (you can do it too!), and volunteers from Manoa, Hawaii, restored popular trails for the public. 

We wish you a wonderful holiday season and coming new year. Please, do us a favor and get outside. 

Tucson Inner City Outings Makes Lemonade out of Lemmons

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