Outdoor Outreach has received another year of funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program (UWCP).
The UWCP has invested in community partners to expand access to nature for underserved youth in San Diego. Through outdoor learning, service and stewardship, conservation-based jobs for disadvantaged youth, and enjoyment of being exposed to nature, we aim to build an urban constituency that supports the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Since 2014 the SoCal Project has worked with community partners to bring more families on to the National Wildlife Refuges in San Diego, provide greater access to the outdoors and work to foster an appreciation for nature within their backyard.
The 12-month partnership between Outdoor Outreach and UWCP will provide opportunities for participants to find their own stepping stones to connect to the natural environment; promote conservation-based career pathways for diverse young adults; and raise awareness of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and their mission to serve urban audiences.
Under this new funding, programming will include surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, mountain biking, snowboarding, outdoor rock climbing and environmental education and stewardship. Outdoor Outreach will provide 200 recreational learning programs in wildlife refuges and adjacent areas, and engage 1,000 youth in education, exploration and environmental stewardship in urban nature areas.
Through the proposed programming, Outdoor Outreach and UWCP aim to 1) Increase awareness of urban wildlife areas and the recreational and environmental value of the resources they protect; 2) Empower participants to make knowledgeable choices about the environment, and minimize impact to the places where the play; and 3) Inspire the next generation of conservation-minded community leaders to value and case for their urban wildlife areas.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program (UWCP) mission is to engage and inspire people who live in urban areas to become part of a conservation constituency, so that together we can leave a legacy of abundant and healthy wildlife and wildlands for future generations to enjoy. Urban areas present a strategic opportunity to reach new audiences and provide access to the outdoors to future generations. The UWCP understands that there is not a one-size-fits all solution to fish and wildlife conservation. To inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, the Service maximizes activities and partnerships that recruit, reactivate and retain outdoor recreation users in urban areas.
The SoCal Urban Wildlife Refuge Project has invested in community partners to expand access to nature for underserved youth in San Diego. Since 2014 the SoCal Project has worked with community partners to bring more families on to the National Wildlife Refuges in San Diego, provide greater access to the outdoors and work to foster an appreciation for nature within their backyard.
Outdoor Outreach is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides adventure-based youth development programs serving 1,700 vulnerable and at-risk youth each year. Through those programs, we’re helping youth build resilience in the face of challenges, and confidence in their power to make a difference.