Outdoor equity funds can help more people get outside

Not everyone has equal access to nature. In the United States, barriers like financial constraints and lack of transportation prevent entire communities from getting into the outdoors—and these barriers disproportionately affect people based on race and income.

In recent years, states like New Mexico, Colorado, California, Washington and Nevada have sought to combat this issue by creating state outdoor equity funds—government dollars directed to support outdoor recreational and educational opportunities for young people and families.

These funds are a vital tool to support outdoor access for youth and families who may otherwise be unable to reach nature. 

What are outdoor equity funds? 

Outdoor equity funds are state-based grant programs that provide financial resources to local organizations providing nature-based programming for communities that have historically been excluded or underserved.

These programs help create possibilities for underserved communities to explore, learn and thrive through quality time spent outdoors. Outdoor equity funding has been used to support a variety of needs—helping kids learn to kayak, providing bicycle safety training, learning about soil health and healthy ecosystems, helping connect Indigenous youth with culturally significant sites, and more. 

What are the benefits of outdoor equity funds?

Creating possibilities for more people to access nature leads to happier, healthier communities that thrive.

• Outdoor equity funds provide access to transformational outdoor experiences—both educational and recreational—for underserved youth and families experiencing the “nature gap.”
• By providing resources for transportation, equipment and programming, outdoor equity funds make the outdoors safer and more accessible for youth and families to enjoy.
• By enhancing access to nature, outdoor equity funds help improve mental, physical and spiritual health.
• Programs supported by outdoor equity funds prioritize the importance of representation in the outdoors, ensuring that the outdoors are welcoming and inclusive to people of all backgrounds.
• Outdoor equity funding is often used to support educational programming that teaches youth and families about the natural world and how to care for it, which helps build the next generation of environmental leaders, stewards and advocates. 

What states have adopted outdoor equity funds?

So far, five states have adopted statewide outdoor equity grant programs: California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Washington. These states recognize that access to nature is not universal and seek to dismantle the barriers that prevent marginalized communities from enjoying the many benefits of outdoor experiences. Maine and North Carolina have privately-funded grant programs. 

Outdoor equity funds are a commitment to justice and inclusion. They are not only breaking down barriers but also building a more connected and representative outdoors for all people. As we continue to champion outdoor equity, we move one step closer to a future where we all can freely explore and enjoy the beauty of nature. Nature awaits us all, and it’s time to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can reap the rewards of quality time spent outside. 

Nature awaits us all, and it’s time to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can enjoy the rewards of quality time spent outside.

The establishment of a national fund holds the promise of even greater impact in advancing outdoor equity for all. The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative is leading the charge to create a national outdoor opportunity fund that helps all young people, no matter where they live, experience the great outdoors. Congress must approve the creation of a foundation to support this kind of grant program. The needs everywhere are great and the existing funding is not sufficient. Let’s work together to make outdoor activities accessible to everyone.