Program Objective
Washington Wild, The Bureau of Fearless Ideas, and THIS IS INDIAN COUNTRY are teaming up to create a Wild Lands & Waters Youth Explorer Booklet, modeled after the successful Junior Ranger program managed by the National and State Parks Departments. The booklet will encourage youth to explore their wild places—from their backyards and community gardens to local, state, and national parks—to build foundational connections with the outdoor environment.

Program Benefits​​​​​​

• Provide immediate health benefits of time spent in nature, which has been proven to reduce stress, support physical well-being, and increase resiliency.

• Through existing scholastic partnerships, The Bureau of Fearless Ideas can directly distribute booklets to 1,200 youth during the 2023-24 school year. Outreach efforts will focus on Title 1 and lower-income schools.

• Accessibility is a top priority with activities designed for a broad range of ages, abilities, and learning styles. Booklet activities will promote exploration of, and appreciation for, outdoor spaces of all kinds.

• THIS IS INDIAN COUNTRY will provide insight and guidance to ensure activities celebrate Indigenous lifeways and support a post-settler colonialist understanding of stewardship.