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Feature Program of the Month

Happy Campers

The Wonderful Outdoor World (WOW) Program Kicks Off in Arizona

Hiding behind a gooey mixture of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham-cracker crumbs, the smile on 10-year-old Ebony's face said it all. Carefully maneuvering the sleeping bag rolled up under her left arm and the rapidly melting s'more in her right hand, she looked up and said matter-of-factly, "I just want to have fun sleeping outside."

For the first time in this fourth grader's life, Ebony is going camping. She is joining more than 600 young people ages 9 - 12 who will participate in WOW campouts throughout the school year in city parks in Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, Mesa and at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Phoenix, Peoria, and Avondale. Bringing nature to the city is the concept of Wonderful Outdoor World or WOW a national programdesigned to give urban children the chance to cook on a camp stove, sleep under the stars and learn about the environment all in their own neighborhood parks.

National sponsors of Arizona's WOW program include: Bureau of Land Management The Coleman Company, Inc. The Recreation Roundtable The Forest Service The National Park Service The Walt Disney Company Wells Cargo Trailers

In addition to the national environmental and outdoor education components of the program, special outdoor classroom sessions have been designed by local, regional, and state agencies to present information on wildlife, wilderness, and other natural resources unique to Arizona. Participants also learn about environmental and outdoor ethics.

The WOW program was conceived when a network of public and private partners began recognizing a trend: fewer families are spending free time on family camp-outs--the traditional means by which most children are introduced to the environment and lifelong outdoor activities. WOW was developed as a cost-effective means of bringing camping experiences into the city. Their motto: "If you can't take kids to the outdoors, bring the outdoors to the kids." WOW was successfully piloted by the City of Los Angeles in 1995. Building on California's success, leaders from Arizona's federal, state and local agencies, private organizations and businesses expanded the program to Arizona. The Bureau of Land Management is one of the national partners.

Denise Meridith, State Director for the BLM in Arizona, calls herself a founding mother of WOW. "Kids today don't get to see fisheries biologists and wildlife biologists on television sitcoms," Meridith said at the first campout in Phoenix. "But here they are going to meet them in person. Hopefully, it will make a big difference in what career opportunities they take, just as it did in my life."

WOW doesn't end with a single experience. Plans call for campers to take part next year in WOW II where they will be able to practice their new skills in more traditional settings managed by the BLM, Park Service, Forest Service and state and county parks. But for now, camping in the city parks appears to be more than enough to make Arizona's WOW campers happy.

WOW is offered at no cost to participants. National sponsors provide trailers, tents, stoves and other camping gear. Local sponsors provide sleeping bags, t-shirts, food, and other items for campers.

For More Information, contact
Bureau of Land Management
Diane Williams (602) 417-9504

By Tina Gromo

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