Nate Snow: Why Getting Kids Outside Matters More Than Ever - Ep 39
Maine is home to some of the most incredible outdoor recreation opportunities in the country, but that doesn't necessarily mean every young person has the opportunity to experience them.In Episode 39 of the More Than Outdoors Podcast, Austin French sits down with Nate Snow from Teens to Trails at the Glassface Ledges Trail in Rumford, Maine, to explore the importance of getting young people outside and the work being done to make outdoor recreation more accessible to students across the state.Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Teens to Trails is a statewide nonprofit organization that supports middle and high school outdoor clubs through funding, equipment, training, and programming. With a background in education as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator, Nate has spent much of his career helping young people discover the benefits of spending time outdoors.Throughout the conversation, Austin and Nate discuss the barriers that can prevent students from participating in outdoor recreation, including transportation, financial resources, technology, and the perception that outdoor activities aren't meant for everyone. They explore how school outdoor clubs can help overcome these challenges while creating opportunities for students to build confidence, develop leadership skills, form friendships, and establish lifelong connections with the outdoors.A major focus of the episode is Life Happens Outside, a new documentary created to celebrate Teens to Trails' 20th anniversary. Featuring students from the Mountain Valley High School Outdoor Club in Rumford, the film shares the powerful stories of young people whose lives have been positively impacted by spending time outdoors with their peers.One of the most important takeaways from the conversation is that getting outside doesn't have to mean climbing a mountain or embarking on an epic adventure. Sometimes, it's as simple as taking a walk, exploring a local trail, or inviting someone to experience the outdoors with you.Whether you're a parent, educator, outdoor enthusiast, or someone who believes in the importance of connecting the next generation with Maine's outdoors, this episode is a reminder that the experiences we create for young people today can shape their relationship with the outdoors for years to come.And as this conversation reminds us, sometimes the best thing we can do is simply get outside and bring someone along.🌿 Connect with Teens to TrailsWebsite: https://www.teens.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenstotrails/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeensToTrailsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teens-to-trails/🌄 Podcast PartnerENO HammocksWebsite: https://eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enohammocks/Shop ENO: https://alnk.to/g3g6QtF📲 Follow & Connect with More Than OutdoorsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethanoutdoorspodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethanoutdoorspodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Y3sPkLWqruQ2eGfD2eTFYApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-outdoors-podcast/id1758537870YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHJAnmz8LNkLbS9QfdW9O2wLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/more-than-outdoors-podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EUqjVmwmG/
