What is Teens Outside?

Teens Outside introduces youth to close-to-home outdoor recreation with sustained, season-long experiences in hiking, camping, climbing, biking, paddling and others. The program utilizes existing community-based programs and resources across the country and partners teens with mentors.

In fall 2006, The Outdoor Foundation partnered with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) with the goal of launching the program in local parks and recreation agencies across the country. Numerous agencies applied to be a part of the program, and 20 were selected for 2007.

By the end of 2007, more than 3,560 teens across the country and 250 mentors were involved in the Teens Outside program, in 20 communities in 15 states.

Our goal is to grow the program each year for the next three years, with expansion into 50-100 communities in the first year and more in subsequent years. Success of the program will mean impacting the lives of more than 50,000 teens and their families in the next five years.

Next Steps

Teens Outside is based on a locally sustainable, nationally replicable model. Once implemented in a community, it can run season after season, year after year without outside support.

Refining program activity guides, measuring program success, and collecting and implementing best practices will allow for further replication after the initial three year roll out. This program design has the potential to be replicated with other national youth organizations and schools to connect youth with the natural world in their home communities.

The Outdoor Foundation is taking steps to make the program turnkey. The Foundation intends to:

Create and periodically update curriculum and program guides. These how-to guides will make the program easy to implement and train mentors to manage and run a successful outdoor recreation program with community support. We will collect and share best practices from existing programs to integrate into curriculum.

Provide Equipment and Gear Support. The Outdoor Foundation is working with outdoor industry leaders to make outdoor gear accessible and affordable to local program agencies. Our goal is to provide agencies acess to gear that parks and recreation departments can use for this program and other outdoor programs.

Measurement and evaluation will be a critical component of assessing success. This will include pre and post assessments on participation rates, participant disposition to outdoor recreation, relationships with mentors and other measures.

Meet the Participants

The measurable impact of an expanded Teens Outside program is fundamentally much more than counting participants. While the goal is to engage hard-to-reach teen populations in outdoor recreation with a purpose, the program will engage many youth at a more profound level. They will develop an appreciation of the outdoors and understand the need be healthy and active for their entire lives. They will understand the role they play in their community and, in turn, pass their values along to others.

Meet Mary Helen. A teenager with Downs Syndrome, Mary Helen lacked confidence and was completely dependent on her parents when she was introduced to the Teens Outside program early last year. She didn't know her phone number, and never ventured more than a foot away from her mother. What a difference a year makes. Today, Mary Helen is a fearless rock climber who mentors younger children in the program. She now uses the phone to call her mother to pick her up from the program, and refuses to let mom or dad stick around while she's at Teens Outside. She's blossomed and is a vital member of this great big Teens Outside family.

Watch Scotty. In and out of foster care for most of his life, Scotty is the epitome of the "at-risk" teenager. With a quick temper and emotional issues, Scotty entered Teens Outside with a bad attitude and a lot of negativity. A year into the program, his life is turning around. He is involved in the advanced kayaking and rock climbing programs through Teens Outside, and has become a reliable mentor for the younger kids. When one of those younger children said something inappropriate on a weekend ski trip a couple of months ago, Scotty spent ten minutes explaining to the kids how important it is to be a role-model, to be on their best behavior, and to never take the benefit of Teens Outside for granted. Scotty's future is looking much brighter.

Listen to Dee. 16-year old Dee has struggled with social issues for most of her life. She has trouble fitting in to groups, has struggled at school, and had trouble finding her place in the world. Teens Outside is just what she needed. Dee is now one of the program's favorite mentors, and has learned to settle down and explain things in detail. An excellent rock climber, Dee has blossomed into a terrific role model, a responsible leader, and a passionate advocate for outdoor adventure and Teens Outside.

Supporters

Corporations, foundations, and individuals across the country have stepped forward to support The Outdoor Foundation with financial contributions. Outdoor Retailer, REI, Timberland, Thule, Sierra Club Foundation and Outdoor Industry Association were our earliest supporters and paved the way for the development of the organization. Without their continuing support, The Outdoor Foundation would have remained a dream.

Others, including EMS, Cascade Designs, Keen, The North Face, Jansport, and Mountain Hardware have also been tremendous supporters and generous donors. Their continuing support and unwavering commitment have enabled The Foundation to grow.

In addition, more than 125 other organizations have also donated generously in support of the vision. Together, we will be able to continue to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.

What Can You Do?

Outdoor industry businesses can support Teens Outside nationally and in their communities in a number of ways. Partnering with Teens Outside is a powerful way to increase youth participation in outdoor recreation and create strong ties between a business and its community.

Email The Outdoor Foundation to learn about opportunities to contribute nationally to the program or to partner with your local Teens Outside. Local communities are looking for volunteers, support, and access to outdoor gear.