Help pass bill for statewide outdoor education

Despite California's abundant open spaces and natural areas and bountiful opportunities to hike, paddle, climb, and explore, fewer than 15% of California's youth participate in any outdoor educational or recreational program. Sierra Club California therefore is sponsoring a bill, AB 2989 by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes, to get kids outside and active.

Too few of our children have access to parks, rivers and forests. They suffer from "nature deficit disorder", a term coined by Richard Louv in his bestselling book Last Child in the Woods. On a typical day, a child is six times more likely to play a video game than ride a bike, according to surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control.

More children now suffer from diabetes, obesity, and other weight-related ailments, especially children living in urban areas, of lower incomes, or from ethnic minorities.

To get these at-risk kids outside, active and experiencing new learning situations, AB 2989 will create the Outdoor Environmental Education and Recreation Program within the state Department of Parks and Recreation. This program will award grants to schools and non-profits that provide outdoor education and recreation opportunities.

Participating programs will commit to:

promote a healthy lifestyle;
maximize the number of young people served;
include service learning, environmental stewardship, and community outreach.

Funding will come from the Environmental License Plate Fund and private donations. Without spending state tax dollars, this program will go a long way toward promoting lifelong health and well-being for kids who otherwise might miss the chance to learn, play, and grow outside.

A 2005 California Department of Education study shows that at-risk children who participated in outdoor education raised their science test scores by 27%, improved their conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills, and went back to school with better self-esteem and motivation to learn.

By giving kids the opportunity to experience nature firsthand and learn about our state's natural wonders, we are not only improving their physical and mental well-being but also preparing them to appreciate and protect California's environment, now and in the future

A tough hill to climb

The state's current fiscal situation could present an obstacle to the bill's success. Even though AB 2989 derives most of its funding from private sources and from special funds, lawmakers are wary this year of approving measures that could require any expenditure of money.

WhatYouCanDo

The Assembly Appropriations Committee, with its tremendous power to approve or kill legislation, represents a big potential obstacle for AB 2989. Help get the bill passed by contacting the chair of this committee, San Francisco's Mark Leno, at:

Assembly Appropriations Committee
State Capitol, #2114
Sacramento, CA 94814
(415)557-3013

Urge him to support and advance AB 2989.

Jim Metropulos, senior advocate, Sierra Club California