What is Be Outdoors Arizona?

Our mission is simple: To encourage continuous nature-centered outdoor experiences that enrich the lives of children.

How are we going to get there?

The Be Outdoors Arizona Vision

• Best practices are recognized and prevalent and are fully integrated into children’s communities.
• More people are participating regularly in activities in parks and other natural environments.
• Walkable cities and safe play areas with infrastructure that supports continuous outdoor experiences are in abundance.
• Documented improvements in both the physical and behavioral health of the citizens in our communities are celebrated.
• A strong local network of organizations and individuals that provides a diversity of opportunities and recognizes the most effective practices is in place.

Want to learn more about our history? Read here.

Be Outdoors Arizona believes…

• In the value of continuous outdoor experiences for every child.
• That children and families who participate in outdoor activities are physically and mentally healthier and become better citizens.
• In the value of unstructured, experiential learning in natural environments.
• That continuous outdoor experiences empower children to influence outcomes in their communities in positive ways.
• That working collectively as a network of interested organizations and individuals accomplishes more than individuals or organizations working alone.

How Do I Get Involved?

Great, but what does all this mean? It means we want to help children get outside and experience the outdoors for numerous developmental, behavioral and health reasons. Here's what you can do to help:

• Join Be Outdoors Arizona.
• Follow BOA news as we organize.
• Visit or volunteer at a Be Outdoors Arizona event.
• Consider sponsoring BOA.
• And soon, create a free BOA account and start digging into our growing body of resources for parents, kids, educators and everyone else interesting in getting kids outside. That content is showing up when we launch Phase 2 of beoutdoorsarizona.org.

Upcoming Plans

• Serve as a clearinghouse of resources for consumers.
• Serve as a clearinghouse to program providers to measure program effectiveness and eliminate redundancies.
• Continue development of a robust website that motivates participation, meets Be Outdoors’ objectives, and links to other related website resources.
• Build relationships with other professions and constituencies to promote the values of Be Outdoors Arizona.
• Develop and implement methods to serve a non-traditional audience.