Five-hundred young Americans from across the United States converged on Central Park this weekend for Outdoor Nation — a national youth conservation summit and festival.

Having hundreds of young people in Central Park isn’t a particularly big deal. What is significant is that the Obama administration has wisely decided that the Outdoor Nation event would provide a great forum for a youth-oriented listening session for its America’s Great Outdoors initiative.

As Americans begin to head outdoors for summer hiking, fishing and picnicking, the Obama administration headed to Montana for the first “listening sessions” as part of America’s Great Outdoors. The administration will be holding listening sessions across the United States in the coming months to learn about successful local conservation partnerships. The knowledge gained will inform a November report that will help implement a national America’s Great Outdoors initiative.

The Obama Administration's kick-off of America's Great Outdoors comes less than a week before the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Together, the Administration, sportsmen, private landowners, tribal leaders, recreationists, and organizations like The Wilderness Society are addressing conservation in the 21st century.