Let's Move! Outside

On March 22, 2016, the YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY announced our participation in rolling out First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Outside initiative in Oklahoma City at a press conference with Mayor Mick Cornett and the Department of the Interior at Bluff Creek Park. It was followed by a service project to plant milkweed plants throughout the park. This initiative is to further the Department of the Interior's vision to increase connections to public lands and more than triple the number of volunteers who help care for America’s treasured landscapes.

Leading First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Outside initiative, the U.S. Department of the Interior, YMCA of the USA, and the National League of Cities (NLC) have joined forces to create more opportunities for kids to play, learn, serve and work outdoors. The value and benefits of time spent outside are well documented, but unfortunately, there is a growing disconnect between young people and the great outdoors – and it’s a gap that we all have the power to help bridge. In partnership with local communities, this initiative is creating meaningful connections to nature for millions of children, young adults, families and veterans, ultimately preparing and supporting the next generation of outdoor stewards.

The initiative is designed around four pillars with clear goals:
· Play: involve 10 million children in outdoor recreation;
· Learn: enroll 10 million children in environmental education programs;
· Serve: engage 1 million volunteers in caring for public lands;
· Work: provide employment opportunities to 100,000 young adults on public lands.