FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2010

CONTACT:

Ellen Dumm, 303 866-6361 (office), 303 829-0194 (cell),

ellen.dumm@state.co.us
 
Lt. Gov. O’Brien Releases Colorado Kids Outdoors Report

Legislation Unveiled to Help Reconnect Kids & Nature
 
Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien today released a report that outlines some of the barriers to Colorado kids spending time in the outdoors, while Rep. Christine Scanlan (D-Summit County) and Sen. Dan Gibbs (D-Summit County) announced legislation designed to bridge that gap.  Lt. Gov. O’Brien toured Colorado last summer, visiting 11 communities statewide to talk about the barriers and successes to children spending time in the outdoors.
 
“Colorado has a strong culture that connects us to the outdoors. We know that our children spending more time outdoors helps their learning, behavior and health issues. At the same time, kids are connected to electronic devices and are gaining weight at an alarming rate. 

What the tour told us was we need to support families in making healthier choices that will help develop the next generation of healthy, balanced conservationists and sportsmen,” said Lt. Gov. O’Brien.
 
Rep. Christine Scanlan and Sen. Dan Gibbs are sponsoring legislation HB - 1131 that will teach Colorado’s students about nature through science-based education and creating a fund to allow kids to directly experience the outdoors.
 
"A good education and an appreciation of nature’s beauty are two of the most valuable things we can pass along to the next generation. This bill will assure that all Colorado kids will be able to enjoy the unique beauty and fantastic recreational opportunities that are our states greatest assets,” said Rep. Scanlan.
 
 “I believe that while not all Coloradans live in the mountains, the mountains live in all Coloradans. With that in mind, I am proud to co-sponsor this bill that will assure the outdoors are always a part of Colorado’s youth,” said Sen. Gibbs.
 
The Scanlan/Gibbs legislation (HB 1131) will create an environmental literacy program to make Colorado eligible for federal grant funds through the No Child Left Inside Act, and establish a state grant program at the Department of Natural Resources that will ensure students are given meaningful opportunity to experience the outdoors.
 
Lt. Gov. O’Brien and the legislators were joined by members of Environmental Learning for Kids, which encourages leadership and scientific learning in outdoor setting among underserved, urban youth.
 
"Being a part of Environmental Learning for Kids has really inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and step up and take my place in society. It has helped me in many ways. I was once a student in the program now I'm more than that. I am a leader," said Dwane Z. Matthews, an ELK alumnus who now works at the National Park Service.
 
Lt. Gov. O’Brien’s report on her tour of the state also highlights successful strategies for reconnecting kids to the outdoors and outlines some shared next steps for government, nonprofits and businesses.  Some of the barriers and next steps include:
 

• Inadequate funding for programs
• Disparities among underserved youth
• Misconceptions about the safety of being outdoors, particularly the fear of strangers
• Intensive schedules and competing interests
• A lack of knowledge about opportunities, benefits
• Strengthen regional networks and solidify a statewide coalition focused on youth and the outdoors
• Collaborate beyond municipal, county, and state borders and leverage national opportunities
• Create a framework to address disparities and connect traditionally underserved youth to existing programs and other outdoor experiences
• Develop a Colorado Environmental Literacy Plan that instills an understanding and appreciation of Colorado’s great outdoors among young people and ensures every child experiences environmental education
• Provide technical assistance to communities to help access existing resources, collaborate across municipal and county boundaries, and share best practices
• Centralize information for opportunities to experience and appreciate the outdoors
• Identify alternative funding mechanisms to supplement non-profit, local government, and agency budgets

 
The full report and the Colorado Kids Outdoor Bill of Rights, ten activities that all Colorado kids should experience before they grow up, are available at www.colorado.gov/ltgovernor under the Kids & Outdoors button.