A social media campaign to inspire people to #ServeOutdoors.
Help spread the word that we can all be good stewards
and maintain our shared outdoor spaces.
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to COVID-19, we will not host the Outdoor Stewardship Week campaign in 2020. Stay tuned for details about alternative ways in which we will celebrate the importance of service in in the Great Outdoors.
June is Great Outdoors Month® – a celebration of America’s natural spaces and the many ways to enjoy them. In the days leading up to The Corps Network’s annual Great Outdoors Day of Service, we lead a social media campaign, Outdoor Stewardship Week, to remind everyone that we can all help maintain the spaces that support our favorite outdoor pastimes. Help spread the word that we can all be good stewards and #ServeOutdoors.
Outdoor Stewardship Week 2019
The 2019 Outdoor Stewardship Week campaign took place June 10 – 14. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success! Scroll below for ways to keep the message going throughout the year.
2019 #ServeOutdoors Photo Contest Winners
Share the message
Help spread the word about the importance of outdoor stewardship and encourage people to #ServeOutdoors and help maintain the places we recreate. Use the sample social messages and images below to inspire people to #ServeOutdoors.
Shorter: – Go to Twitter | Go to Instagram
Volunteers #ServeOutdoors millions of hrs every year to protect & improve the places we recreate. Be a good steward & #ServeOutdoors @TheCorpsNetwork #EscapetheIndoors
Love to recreate in the #GreatOutdoors? You should #ServeOutdoors! Consider volunteering at your favorite park & help maintain our shared outdoor spaces. #escapetheindoors @TheCorpsNetwork
America’s #publiclands belong to all of us. We are all responsible for being good stewards. Learn about ways to #ServeOutdoors. @TheCorpsNetwork #EscapetheIndoors
We love #publiclands, but our outdoor spaces have billions in #deferredmaintenance. Everyone can help maintain our shared resources. Learn how you can #EscapetheIndoors & #ServeOutdoors. @TheCorpsNetwork
Longer: – Go to Facebook
Volunteers and #AmeriCorps members are critical to helping maintain and improve our #publiclands and other shared outdoor spaces. Consider volunteering or serving at your favorite place to enjoy the #GreatOutdoors. Be a good steward and #ServeOutdoors.
#PublicLands belong to all of us. We can all pitch in and help resource managers take care of our favorite places to hike, bike, swim, camp, boat or otherwise #EscapetheIndoors. Be a good steward and take time this summer to discover ways you can #ServeOutdoors in your community.
Talking Points and Facts
- The bad news: As a result of budget and staffing limitations, our federal public lands have billions of dollars in backlogged maintenance. This threatens access to our favorite outdoor past times and, in turn, threatens local economies that depend on the outdoor recreation economy. More than 7.6 million people are employed in America’s outdoor recreation industry; access to public lands and outdoor recreation infrastructure is essential to supporting these jobs. Many of our favorite outdoor activities – including hiking, biking, camping, boating, and fishing – would not be possible without proper stewardship of our park infrastructure and resources.
- The good news: We can and should help! From volunteer events, to national service positions, to small day-to-day actions, there are lots of ways for those who enjoy outdoor recreation to pitch in and help protect the public lands and other outdoor spaces we love.
- Did you know?
- Volunteers have contributed more than 123 million hours of service to national forests since 1972. This service is valued at $1.4 billion.
- More than 300,000 people volunteer at national parks every year.
- More than 24,000 young people and post-9/11 veterans participate in Service and Conservation Corps every year.
- Did you know?
Find a service or volunteer opportunity
There are lots of ways to #ServeOutdoors across the country and throughout the year. Below are a few resources to assist you in finding the right opportunity to #ServeOutdoors.
Large National Volunteer Days
Mark your calendar for the annual events listed below. These are great opportunities to give back to the outdoor spaces you love.
- Earth Day (every year on April 22) – https://www.earthday.org/
- National Trails Day (Occurs annually on first Saturday in June) https://americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/
- Great Outdoors Day of Service (Occurs annually in June in Washington, DC) https://corpsnetwork.org/day-of-service/
- National Public Lands Day (Occurs annually on fourth Saturday in September) https://www.neefusa.org/npld
Find a National Service Opportunity
Ready to make a bigger commitment to the Great Outdoors? Through a national service program, you could spend several months serving full-time on projects that help improve and maintain habitats, parks, and other natural assets.
- AmeriCorps – https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/join-americorps
- Service Year – https://serviceyear.org/
- The Corps Network, Jobs at Corps (these positions are primarily targeted at young adults ages 16 – 25 and veterans up to age 35) – https://corpsnetwork.org/resources/jobs-at-corps/
Find a Recurring Volunteer Opportunity
Here are a few websites to help you find a recurring volunteer opportunity in the Great Outdoors.
- Volunteer.gov – Find opportunities to volunteer with federal resource management agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, and the Bureau of Land Management.
- AllforGood.org – A service of Points of Light, this online database can connect you with many different types of volunteer opportunities, including opportunities to serve in the Great Outdoors.
- VolunteerMatch.org – Large searchable database of volunteer opportunities with many different organizations, including organizations focused on the environment
- AARP Volunteer Opportunity Board – AARP will help match your interests with volunteer opportunities.