Outdoor Recreation in America
Brought to you by the American Recreation Coalition
Wonderful Outdoor World
About WOW
The WOW - Wonderful Outdoor World - program began in Los Angeles, California in 1995 and has since expanded to Arizona, Colorado, Washington, DC, Utah, and New Mexico. WOW is more than a program; it is a philosophy that fosters a belief that outdoor recreation and the environment play an important and positive role in American culture. Inner-city youths, ages 8-12, experience an overnight campout in the heart of their community to open their eyes to healthy outdoor fun available on public lands across the nation. Family members are encouraged to join in the opening and closing activities. Over 8,000 inner-city youths have had the opportunity to participate in WOW to date.
WOW’s mission is to awaken an awareness in America's urban youth of both our outdoor legacy - and its availability to them - and their responsibility to be stewards and champions of the outdoors.
Visit WOW's National website at http://www.wownational.org/.
Great Outdoors Month 2007 Update
Wonderful Outdoor World | GOM 2007 | News Releases
Posted on Tue, 06/26/2007 - 09:17.
Great Outdoors Month 2007 began with a flourish, announced by a Presidential proclamation and through parallel actions by nearly half of the governors (to see copies of the proclamations, click here).
June 2 was National Trails Day and included some 1200 construction and maintenance projects across the nation. The next day marked the start of National Fishing and Boating Week, which included hundreds of events to introduce America’s youth to fun on and near the water. Great Outdoors Week followed and featured numerous high-profile events in the Nation’s Capitol, including the presentation of the 19th Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award.
June 2 was National Trails Day and included some 1200 construction and maintenance projects across the nation. The next day marked the start of National Fishing and Boating Week, which included hundreds of events to introduce America’s youth to fun on and near the water. Great Outdoors Week followed and featured numerous high-profile events in the Nation’s Capitol, including the presentation of the 19th Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award.
WOW Fact Sheet
Wonderful Outdoor World
Posted on Thu, 07/01/2004 - 15:43.
WOW Fact Sheet
WOW-Wonderful Outdoor World, introduces inner city youth, ages 8-12, to outdoor recreation and environmental education during an overnight camping experience within the heart of their own community. This innovative approach reduces the apprehension many young people face when camping outdoors for the first time and provides them with the basic skills and encouragement to enjoy further outdoor experiences.
National WOW sponsors include:
- The Coleman Company
- Los Angeles City
- Department of Recreation and Parks
- Leave No Trace
- The Recreation Roundtable
- USDA Forest Service
- USDI Bureau of Land Management
- USDI National Park Service
- The Walt Disney Company
- Wells Cargo
