Stepping Up...and Getting Out

Life experience has left me believing in the restorative power of time spent in nature. I am humbled and honored to be the new Director of Mission Outdoors, and lead a program committed to connecting people with the wonders of our country’s open spaces and wild places. The strength of Mission Outdoors is in:

• Our 7,000+ volunteer leaders from all walks of life leading over 250,000 individuals on outings of all levels, interests and sizes in zip codes in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
• Initiatives that ensure American service members, veterans and their families can enjoy the freedom of the land they defended and use the outdoors as a place to reconnect, to heal and to grow together.
• Policy work and advocacy at the state and national levels to safeguard access to the outdoors and ensure the removal of barriers to getting outside at local green spaces, state parks or one of our many federally-managed public land units.

We won’t however, rest on our laurels.

Expanding on our foundation of excellence and safety in the outdoors, we look forward to ultimately connecting over one million people with outdoor experiences. We’ll do this through our continued commitment to creating leadership and outings opportunities for all who reside in America, including our military families and veterans, youth, and under-served communities. We will lead the way in supporting research on the physical, mental, social, and economic benefits of outdoor recreation and wilderness. We will continue to be a home for the graduates of skills and leadership programs, and a place to prepare and train for your next small or big challenge in the outdoors. We will be the connection between the hundreds of other great outdoor education, experiential organizations, schools and local communities.

Outside, we can reconnect with one another and as a nation. We can set aside political squabbles for the enjoyment of an afternoon hike, a sunrise from a mountain top. We will stand together at the end of a long day in river rapids, or sharing photographs of the last journey taken off the beaten path in the American back country.

First, however, Mission Outdoors needs you. We need you to make a decision to participate or continue to participate in the great outdoors of our country, whether it’s an afternoon at your local park or a trip to a national forest. We need your help to make sure the wilderness is an inviting and safe place. We need you to be leaders.  We need you to get outside.