Engaging Youth Outdoors: A Partnership Between the YMCA and the National Park Service
Launched in 2015 with 16 local Ys, the Youth Outdoors Initiative is a joint program of the YMCA and National Park Service (NPS) with a focus on youth development, recreation, service, social and environmental responsibility and healthy living that emphasizes the value and significance of natural and cultural resources in nearby parks and communities.
The program connects Ys to national park sites and rangers, and provides young people--particularly youth from underserved communities-- with outdoor experiences and excursions to their local national park. Centered on recreation, conservation and service, the the Youth Outdoors Initiative provides the following:
• Unique recreational opportunities
• Learning experiences in nature and history
• Service learning through simple, memorable work projects
• Continued leadership development through work experiences for staff and volunteers
Want to Learn More?
Enter our digital storybook to learn more about the strategic partnership between the YMCA and the National Park Service, and hear firsthand from YMCAs around the country about the impact of this partnership on their local youth.
Our Impact
Each year, Ys have served double the number of participants required by the grant and have leveraged and matched funds one-to-one.
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17,800
children and teens had their first YMCA/NPS summer camp experience in 2023.
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6,763
children and teens participated in service projects through the progran in 2023
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2,573
18-to–24-year-olds were employed as counselors in the program
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More than 100,000
To date, the Y has engaged more than 100,000 children in the outdoors through the program.
Introducing the Beauty of Zion National Park to Our Military Families
Watch more Y stories
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Introducing the Beauty of Zion National Park to Our Military Families
To celebrate Veterans Day, the YMCA of Southern Nevada invited local active military families and veterans in the community to experience Zion National Park as part of the YMCA-NPS partnership. By connecting military families with the park and exposing young people to nature and the great outdoors, the program is planting seeds of possibility for both future career paths as well as opportunities for wellness.
A Shared Commitment to Service Learning
In June, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington partnered with National Capital Parks-East to host a service learning project with participants in the Y’s Youth & Government program. Teens from across the country were in DC for Y-USA’s annual Youth Governors Conference, and ten students dedicated a service day to helping clean up the grounds at Anacostia Park in Southeast DC. Read more about their experience.
“The national parks I have visited have been larger, more well-known parks. Until we went to Anacostia Park, I had never seen a smaller, community national park. During our time at Anacostia Park, we influenced other young people to pick up trash and got encouragement from community members. This helped me to see that the work I was doing was important and helpful to those we were serving.” – Saachi R., Michigan
Developing Happy and Healthy Kids
The YMCA supports kids' emotional, cognitive and physical growth through programs focused on education and care outside of school. Through advocacy, we can expand these opportunities to reach more children. Explore some of these programs below.