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What is the policy or policy idea?

What barrier or problem it addresses

Why is it successful (if it is an existing policy)?

You can also link to more information.

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Provides funding for transportation improvements to federal lands

https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs-access

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Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Generation Wild Grants

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Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Generation Wild Grants

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Across the state in 15 Generation Wild communities, diverse local coalitions are bringing projects to life using a community-led, youth-driven, collaborative approach to creating equitable access to the outdoors. Previously called the Inspire Initiative, the innovative framework is being looked to as a national model, and each coalition's approach will serve as examples to other rural, urban, suburban, or mountain communities across Colorado and the country. To amplify the initiative's message and help it achieve its goals, the Generation Wild communications program was launched in 2017. Follow the movement on Instagram and Facebook.

Learn about the communities that received planning and implementation grants from 2015-2017:

How to Apply

Check back soon for more information about future funding opportunities.

Questions?

Contact Youth Initiatives Program Officer Erika Meyer at emeyer@goco.org or 303.226.4512.

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Across the state in 15 Generation Wild communities, diverse local coalitions are bringing projects to life using a community-led, youth-driven, collaborative approach to creating equitable access to the outdoors. Previously called the Inspire Initiative, the innovative framework is being looked to as a national model, and each coalition's approach will serve as examples to other rural, urban, suburban, or mountain communities across Colorado and the country.

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families would not have to work multiple jobs and would have more time to go outdoors and money for gear, travel, etc.

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Can be strengthened to include outdoor investigations and other learning opportunities that provide meaningful outdoor time as part of the school day and remote learning situations.

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This bill will fund grants to schools for a variety of activities, including outdoor learning experiences for students and related teacher professional development.
Grants to individual schools will support teacher professional development, outdoor learning experiences for students, outdoor classrooms, schoolyard habitat, and energy and waste reduction.

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Environmental Education Initiative for Public Schools (new idea)

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Environmental Education Initiative for Public Schools (new idea)

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In 2019, our state legislature passed this bill, appropriating $400K to support computer science standards and learning (https://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0093.html) My hope is that we can modify this bill and use this same strategy to get funding appropriated for environmental education.
Barriers include: needing to build a coalition with multiple partners, getting legislative buy-in, demonstrating economic impact

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Emergent: Outdoor Learning as part of strategies to reopen schools

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Emergent: Outdoor Learning as part of strategies to reopen schools

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Examples include use of CARES Act funds to support schoolground and offsite learning experiences (NC), Permission structure for using adjacent grounds, closed streets, parks for learning (NYC), Maine Dept of Ed including outdoor learning as an innovation strategy for addressing COVID using Federal education funding

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Allowing private sector to provide missing resources to massify access to natural areas

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New idea: Service corps for outdoor and environmental educators 

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New idea: Service corps for outdoor and environmental educators 

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To support community and school based outdoor education

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Outdoor equity grants program (California AB 209)

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Outdoor equity grants program (California AB 209)

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Barriers it addresses: nature-based programming, career pathways, transportation, etc
Successful: $19M is available for competition grants (most likely ranging from $20k-$300k each)- the grant guidelines are still being finalized
Learn more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parks-now-historic-outdoor-equity-wins-in-2019-legislative-session-300952302.html

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Funding for public lands and parks accessible to every community - Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act is an example of a statewide initiative

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Funding for public lands and parks accessible to every community - Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act is an example of a statewide initiative

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After spending countless days and hours with New Mexico youth on public lands: hiking, fishing, rafting, hunting and talking about cultura and conservation, we realized a dire need for New Mexico youth and its communities: public and private funding to make these programs independent and sustainable. The Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project led the charge to create the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund during the 2019 New Mexico Legislative Session. We're thrilled to announce that the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund has been signed into law by New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham, and goes into effect July 1, 2019. Nuestra Tierra continues to work with youth, a community of equity advocates, outdoor educators, and state government to ensure that the Outdoor Equity Fund is implemented and administered in a truly equitable way, spread across a diverse geography in New Mexico.
Click here to see our recommendations Click here to see the coalition of state and national organizations that support a New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund. regarding the implementation of the Outdoor Equity Fund in New Mexico.

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New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund - Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project

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After spending countless days and hours with New Mexico youth on public lands: hiking, fishing, rafting, hunting and talking about cultura and conservation, we realized a dire need for New Mexico youth and its communities: public and private funding to make these programs independent and sustainable.

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Idea: making fishing licenses and other permits more accessible like park passes through schools and community centers

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Idea: making fishing licenses and other permits more accessible like park passes through schools and community centers

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Anyone know of programs like this?

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https://www.nuestra-tierra.org/outdoor-equity-fund-2

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Existing policy: Youth Community Access Grant Program - from Prop 64 (California)

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Existing policy: Youth Community Access Grant Program - from Prop 64 (California)

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Policy idea: Funded by Marijuana taxes, $5.7 million for competitive grants to support youth access to natural or cultural resources with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities
Barriers it addresses: Access to nature based programs, job training, park improvements
Successes: This program is a competitive grant program which is currently accepting applications for the first time... to support public programs, educational programs, job training programs, outreach programs and small capital asset projects to support youth access to natural or cultural resources.
Link to learn more: https://resources.ca.gov/grants/youth

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Encouraging and building-in community involvement in every stage of developing and implementing policies

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Encouraging and building-in community involvement in every stage of developing and implementing policies

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Idea: Grants to reimburse teachers for outdoor ed costs

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Idea: Grants to reimburse teachers for outdoor ed costs

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This could come out of a state park fund trust. Could also operate on a per-student basis: reimbursing costs associated with children from low-income families.

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Federal and/or state funding to:
-Extend the Every Kid Outdoors federal pass to state and regional park systems,.
-Program staffing for state park agencies and park-adjacent youth-serving nonprofit organizations, with priority for supporting public-private partnerships that provide open space and environmental education for school districts to conduct classes outdoors.
-Transportation costs, including transporting students to public lands and supplementing park agency and nonprofit organizations’ transportation budgets for getting USDA Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program meals and snacks to outdoor program
sites.

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The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation launched EKO in 2019. It received 100% support from our state legislature. In 2019, $150,000 was appropriated to fund outdoor and nature-based recreation opportunities for children aged 6-18. Funding will be available in 2021 and my organization has worked with this office to ensure that a % will be available for an outdoor classroom RFP. https://business.utah.gov/outdoor/eko/

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Denver's Environmental Learning Kids (ELK)

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Denver's Environmental Learning Kids (ELK)

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Policy Idea: ELK (Environmental Learning for Kids) is an inclusive non-profit organization that develops inspired and responsible leaders through science education and outdoor experiences for underserved, urban youth ages 5-25

Barrier it addresses: They provide environmental education and outdoor experiences for childern from  disadvantaged backgrounds. Also provide leadership opportunities for older children through the Urban Ranger program.

Success:

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Oregon has a program funded by lottery proceeds. We in Kentucky are seeking to build a program based on this model

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All 4th graders go to National Parks for free. Sorry, I can't remember the official policy name.

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All 4th graders go to National Parks for free. Sorry, I can't remember the official policy name.

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Allows different institutions / communities to start somewhere and build up.
Gives a framework within which multi-sectorial coordination can happen.

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School District Health & Wellness Policies 

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School District Health & Wellness Policies 

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All school districts have been required to have health & wellness policies, which are another way to advocate for and include the benefits of being and learning outdoors. Providence Public Schools has included outdoor learning in their Health & Wellness policy update.

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Summary

A school district's goals and guidelines for health and wellness of the entire school community

A healthy learning environment is one in which good nutrition is available, students engage in regular physical activity, physical and health education are regarded as essential to the core educational program, social and emotional wellness are promoted and actively modeled, and students and staff learn and practice positive lifestyle behaviors. This policy outlines Providence Public School District's goals and expectations relative to wellness for the entire school community by establishing guidelines around nutrition, physical activity, and health education, while also ensuring compliance with state and federal school wellness mandates. Notably, thoughtfully-designed green schoolyards are key to addressing disparities in access to green space and connecting people to health benefits of nature.

ACCESS RESOURCE HERE

SOURCE

Providence Public School District

PUBLICATION DATE

August 2017

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Providence Public Schools Health and Wellness Policy

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Summary A healthy learning environment is one in which good nutrition is available, students engage in regular physical activity, physical and health education are regarded as essential to the core educational program, social and emotional wellness are promoted and actively modeled, and students and staff learn and practice positive lifestyle behaviors.

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Existing Policy: Prop 68 (California) - Statewide park program 

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Existing Policy: Prop 68 (California) - Statewide park program 

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Policy idea:  $725 Million grant program for building parks in park poor neighborhoods (part of a $4.1 Billion bond in 2018)
Barrier it addresses: access to parks in park poor neighborhoods
Success: parks being created, expanded and improved in park poor neighborhoods throughout California
Link to learn more: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29906

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Policy: The idea is to plant. native shade and fruit trees in schools and for the students to learn the benefits of trees and how to maintain trees in nature.
Barriers:  School curriculum that allows for students to maintain and learn about the trees.
Success: Brings shade, fruit and resourceful energy to a school also children are learning about nature while being in nature.

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Existing: ABC Quality Standards in SC (QRIS) for ECE   

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Existing: ABC Quality Standards in SC (QRIS) for ECE   

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Policy: Embedded indicators for rating ECE programs that focus on time spent outdoors (free play and beyond) for all age groups, creating nature-rich indoor and outdoor environments.
Barriers are that participation in QRIS is voluntary, and that standards are not mandatory.
Success: Meeting indicators earns a program points, leading to higher pay rate for child care vouchers.

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Existing Policy: Washington Outdoor Preschool Licensing

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Existing Policy: Washington Outdoor Preschool Licensing

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Policy Idea: Remove the "brick and mortar" licensing requirements so that outdoor preschools can provide high-quality, low-cost outdoor learning for early childhood.
Barriers: licensing
Success: Lower cost and more outdoor time. Plus COVID-friendly.

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Policy idea: have a gear library at a school to loan students rain or snow clothing and gear.
Barriers: access to sufficient weather-specific gear to spend time outside.