Rooted in Nature, Empowered by Change: State Policies that Grow with Youth.

The Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook empowers youth, communities, and state lawmakers to act. It shares successful policies, connects leaders, and sparks new ideas to reconnect all youth to the outdoors. While we focus on what states can do, the policies in the Playbook often work at both local and federal levels!

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Why Youth Outdoors?

Kids and youth thrive outside, but access to nature often depends on where you live and who you are. When everyone can spend meaningful time in nature, it makes us, our communities, and even our planet healthier. State lawmakers can turn to nature connections for healthier, happier children, stronger communities, and solutions to climate crises.

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The Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook

The Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook tracks new and exciting bipartisan policy ideas in outdoor equity & justice, environmental education & outdoor learning, outdoor health & wellbeing, and outdoor play.

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Community Spotlights

Get inspired year-round! Our Community Spotlights, updated monthly, showcase success stories and celebrate the changemakers shaping youth outdoor policy across the United States.

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Annual Trend Reports

Discover policy trends and insights in our Annual Trend Reports

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Legislative Stories

As a legislator, I have worked to ensure our state provides opportunities for youth to experience Utah's many amazing natural areas. This playbook will be an incredible resource to inspire me with ideas for new proposals that promote a healthy active childhood full of outdoor experiences for all of Utah's children.

Former Utah Representative Patrice Arent

We are living in a time where prevention is a necessity for the well-being of our children. We know the benefits (i.e. - good health, academic achievement, environmental stewardship) outdoor experiences have on our children. With the release of the Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook, legislators across the country will be equipped with strategies on how to bring ideas on outdoor learning into action. Ohio has a wealth of natural resources our children can connect with and I'm excited to use the playbook to create policies that help our children grow and ultimately live the American Dream, right here at home.

Former Ohio Representative Stephanie Howse

When we developed the Outdoor Equity Fund we were responding to local needs in New Mexico - a need to make sure that discussions of outdoor recreation and tourism included mechanisms to support young people of color in accessing the outdoors and creating a new generation of stewards. It is exciting to know that the playbook will help tell the story of what we have been able to accomplish in New Mexico, and also bring to light other policy ideas that support getting more kids outside to enjoy their public lands.

New Mexico Representative Angelica Rubio

I believe that spending time in nature supports the healthy development and education of our children and I'm working hard to advance policies that support youth outdoor engagement. This Policy Playbook is an invaluable tool in that effort, providing at my fingertips the evidence I need to make the case, examples of what's worked in other states and a bill library where I can borrow from efforts that have worked in other places.

Former Minnesota Representative Jim Davnie

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Working on youth outdoor policy in your state? Did we miss something? Let us know!