Nature Conservancy of Idaho Joins Efforts to Get Kids Outside

Be Outside Campaign provides opportunities for kids in nature around the state

Boise, Idaho — February 15, 2009 — The Nature Conservancy is pleased to be a partner in Be Outside, a new effort to get Idaho kids in nature.

As part of the partnership, the Conservancy will offer family and children activities at its preserves, free and open to the public.

With fewer children experiencing nature firsthand than ever, a campaign to get more children outside offers so many benefits to Idaho. The Nature Conservancy believes that ultimately the fates of our wildlife, our outdoor recreational heritage and our working lands depend on it.

A recent study conducted by The Nature Conservancy found that participation in nature-based recreation was at an all-time low: a finding that mirrors trends across the country. Hunting and fishing license sales, state and national park visitation and even kids’ bike purchases are all in steep decline.

The benefits of outdoor activities for children’s mental and physical health are well-documented. These activities also often create a life-long commitment to conservation. If our children remain inside, we will lose tomorrow’s outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists.

The Nature Conservancy’s history in Idaho can be traced back to a child experiencing outdoor recreation in one of our special landscapes. When Ernest Hemingway first visited Silver Creek in the 1930’s, his first thought was that he had to bring his sons to this beautiful stream for duck hunting and trout fishing. His son, Jack, visited the next year and experienced outdoor adventures that left him wanting to return again and again.

As an adult, Jack Hemingway became instrumental in creating Silver Creek Preserve, which today hosts people from all over world who visit for its world-class fly fishing, birding and canoeing. Twenty-two landowners along the stream were inspired enough to donate conservation easements, keeping their land as working farms and ranches.

What would have happened had Jack Hemingway instead stayed indoors?

Outdoor recreation is so much a part of Idaho’s heritage. Ensuring that children can experience the tremendous opportunities here should be a priority for all of us.

Nationwide, providing opportunities for children to experience the outdoors has been recognized as a priority for The Nature Conservancy. For our collaborative conservation approach to work in the future, we recognize that we must offer outdoor opportunities for a new generation of conservationists. Now is the time to build and expand public-private partnerships to address this critical need.

The Nature Conservancy enthusiastically supports the Be Outside campaign and is pleased to be a partner in this important effort.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.