Press Releases
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (May 24, 2011) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announced that its Take Me Fishing campaign is once again teaming up with Outdoor Nation to engage youth in outdoor activities, including boating and fishing. The youth-led movement championing the outdoors recently announced its plans to host multiple three-day regional youth summits in New York City, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver and San Francisco. Taking place June 23 through July 31, youth delegates will come together to brainstorm project ideas that address regional issues and ultimately engage more young people in the outdoors by removing existing barriers to participation.
“Research shows some of the primary reasons why young people aren’t spending more time outdoors include indoor technologies, poor parental influence, lack of transportation, expense, dirt and discomfort,” said Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President & CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re thrilled to be working with Outdoor Nation to help eliminate these barriers and create new outdoor champions who will appreciate and preserve our nation’s natural resources for future generations.”
Tied to every Summit is a Summer Fun Day celebration held in a nearby park to highlight the incredible range of outdoor recreation opportunities—from kayaking and fishing to rock climbing and a family fun area—that are available close to home. These events are open to the community and are expected to attract thousands of local residents.
Outdoor Nation is currently recruiting youth leaders to participate in the Summits. Those interested in participating can apply online through Outdoor Nation’s new community website, OutdoorNation.org. The application deadline is June 1.
Outdoor Nation was launched in June 2010 in New York’s Central Park when 500 young adults representing all 50 states gathered in what became the largest and most diverse summit to connect youth to the outdoors. The event sparked a youth-led movement that is empowering the Millennial generation to reconnect, redefine and rediscover America as an Outdoor Nation.
The 2011 Outdoor Nation Summer Summit Series is being presented by The North Face, REI Foundation, and The Conservation Fund and is supported by many other notable organizations including RBFF, America’s State Parks and the National Park Service, Merrell, Play Outdoors, SmartWool, Mountain Hardwear, Eastern Mountain Sports, Johnson and Johnson, CIGNA, The Presidio Trust, Clark Atlanta University, The Crissy Field Center, The Mississippi River Fund and more than 100 invested organizations from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
For more information visit TakeMeFishing.org/OutdoorNation.
About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™.
About Outdoor Nation
Outdoor Nation is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation and was founded with initial support from The North Face, RBFF, REI Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service.
