Western Governors Encourage Kids, Families to "Get Outdoors"

June 11, 2012

WGA - Chris McKinnon( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Outdoor Nation - Stasia Raines, Director of Marketing and Communications, Outdoor Foundaton & Outdoor Nation (619) 957-9891

Cle Elum, Wash. - The Western Governors' Association and Outdoor Nation announced today a pilot project they have launched to inspire teenagers and their families to get outdoors and take advantage of the many great places for outdoor recreation throughout the Western states.

The Governors are holding their Annual Meeting here through tomorrow.

"As the West has become increasingly urbanized, many of our young people have lost the connection to the outdoors," said Gov. Chris Gregoire, WGA Chair.  "Unfortunately, many kids are not experiencing the beauty of the natural world around us, unaware of our awe inspiring state and national parks, our forests and our rivers."

Several Western governors have agreed to participate in a pilot project that aims to increase park visits by creating a position of Youth Outdoor Recreation Outreach Coordinator in their offices.

"These young people - we call them YOuROCers -- will utilize social media to highlight unique outdoor spaces in their states while encouraging their peers to get outside and be active," said Chris Fanning, Executive Director of The Outdoor Foundation, the organization that created Outdoor Nation.

The announcement was made today at the WGA Annual Meeting during a panel discussion on youth and the outdoors.  Joining the governors for the discussion was Todd Spaletto, President of the North Face. The North Face believes strongly in promoting youth outdoor recreation and is a founding partner of Outdoor Nation.

"The North Face is a unique brand, grounded in outdoor exploration and desired by young adults," Spaletto told the governors. "We feel we have the responsibility and obligation to inspire and activate the next generation of outdoor explorers and conservationists. Our products and programs provide them with tools they need to get outdoors and activate a movement of outdoor exploration on the ground."

Gov. John Hickenlooper (Colo.) is one of the first governors who will host a YOuROCer in his state.

"Kids today have more options for their free time than we did growing up.  Technology has given them new tools to learn, to connect and to explore," Hickenlooper said.  "But you can't truly experience a state park or beautiful natural area until you actually go there and get dirty."

The governors received a number of recommendations on youth outreach and other topics from the WGA's Get Out West!  Advisory Group.  It was formed last year to provide advice on how to grow the outdoor recreation and tourism economies in the West and connect kids to the outdoors.  One of the advisory group's recommendations was to find new ways to connect young people in the region to natural areas in each of their states.

The GOW! Advisory Group delivered three reports to the governors today:

• The West's Competitive Advantage: Landscapes, Open Lands and Unique History;
• Connecting Kids and Families to the West's Great Outdoors; and
• Managing the Region's Recreation Assets.

All of these reports can be found on WGA's Web site at www.westgov.org.  A list of the GOW! Advisory Group members is included in each report.