By Amber Moore, Intern
Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Let’s Move Outside initiative, a new outdoors component of her Let’s Move! campaign to combat childhood obesity in one generation. The First Lady co-hosted the event with the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Las Vegas.
The launch of the Let’s Move Outside initiative highlighted the important role our public lands and the outdoors play in the development of healthy kids, healthy families and healthy communities. And there was no better place to make the case for getting outdoors than in the beautiful Red Rock Canyon, just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. The event began with remarks by Mrs. Obama, Senator Harry Reid, and the Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Rhea Suh. Twenty children from the local community were there to participate in a rock scramble and stretching exercises, and were afterward sworn in as Junior Rangers by Mrs. Obama, which is a National Park Service designation for young explorers. The launch also included the release of a new website to help parents get their kids outdoors,Let’s Move Outside.
Just following the announcement, a new national strategic partnership called OAK, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, made its debut. OAK will work to expand the number and quality of opportunities for children, youth and families to connect with the outdoors. Sierra Club has joined the YMCA of the USA, REI, National Wildlife Federation, Izaak Walton League of America, The Outdoor Foundation, National Recreation and Park Association and the Children & Nature Network, collectively representing over 30 million members, to address the growing divide between children and families and the natural world.Learn more about OAK. Visit OAK on Facebook. Read OAK's press release.
