As Pittsburgh revitalizes its three riverfronts with trails and greenspace, a local non-profit seeks to engage all its residents in healthy outdoor activity.
With the slogan “we make it easy to get outside,” Venture Outdoors has created a wide variety of recreation programs that invite individuals and families to join group activities from doggie hikes to bike rides, snowshoeing, rock-climbing, and kayaking. While its programs have attracted over 30,000 people since its founding in 2001, the group recognized that the vast majority of participants–95 percent–were white. “That just wasnt acceptable, as we feel our organization should reflect the community we serve, in which minorities comprise 16 percent [of the population],” said assistant executive director Sean Brady.
This year, Venture Outdoors set out to change that pattern with its Family and Community Programs. Activities are targeted at the beginner level, providing weekly programs and free outdoor family outdoor festivals. All programs are held within walking distance of diverse communities and are served by public transit.
This summer, programs have engaged over 1,300 people, with a goal of introducing 11,000 new people to the outdoors by 2011. Brady says that Venture Outdoors’ program model could be adopted by other cities experiencing the same disproportion in recreation engagement.
Source: Sean Brady
Writer: Chris O’Toole
