FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 2009

CONTACT
Ellen Dumm, 303 866-6361 (office), 303 829-0194 (cell), ellen.dumm@state.co.us

LT. GOV. O'BRIEN FINISHES COLORADO KIDS OUTDOORS TOUR IN GOLDEN
Colorado Mountain Club Honors Lt. Gov. O'Brien

Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien wrapped up her statewide, four-month long Colorado Kids Outdoors tour in Golden today at the Colorado Mountain Club. The 11-stop tour was designed to find out what communities are doing to reconnect kids to the outdoors and discover what barriers still exist that deter children from participating in outside activities. A report on the tour is expected later this fall.

"Colorado has a culture of outdoor recreation and active living that gives us our reputation as one of the healthiest states in the nation," said Lt. Gov. O'Brien. "But that reputation and culture is at risk as kids are spending half the amount of time outside as they did 20 years ago and childhood obesity rates have doubled in the same amount of time. Spending time outside and engaged in nature can produce kids with better behavior, that's more ready to learn, and with a better sense of balance."

National studies indicate that children spend an average of six and a half hours a day connected to electronics. The Golden forum was the largest of the 11 forums, with about 150 people attending.

Colorado Mountain Club CEO Katie Blackett honored Lt. Gov. O'Brien for her "continued leadership in encouraging healthy citizens and environmental stewards through experiences in nature and Colorado's great outdoors."

"Using the power of nature to awaken a child's senses, curiosity, and desire to learn is a powerful, inexpensive tool we can use to educate our children," said Blackett. "We can't afford to ignore our children's obesity rates nor their unawareness of the outdoors. Getting kids outdoors can change their life."

One of the outcomes of the Colorado Kids Outdoors tour was the creation of the Colorado Kids Outdoor Bill of Rights, 10 things Colorado kids should have an opportunity to do outside before they grow up.

Sixth graders from Mitchell Elementary in Golden attended the session and thanked Lt. Gov. O'Brien for developing the Colorado Kids Outdoor Bill of Rights. The list was based on suggestions sent from kids statewide, and is available at under the Kids Outdoors button.