This panel brings real voices to the center, sharing lived experiences of barriers to the outdoors and what made coming back possible. Through honest, human stories, panelists reflect on what exclusion feels like and what true belonging requires. Participants will leave with practical, community-rooted ideas for reducing barriers, building trust, and creating welcoming pathways that help more people feel seen, supported, and able to come alive outside.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify three local barriers and three additional demographic-specific outdoor access barriers.

2. Describe two relationship-based strategies that build trust and inclusive outdoor participation.

3. List three program design approaches that increase belonging and reduce participation barriers.

Presenters:

Arwen Turner, Executive Director, Come Alive Outside

Come Alive Outside is a Vermont-based nonprofit that inspires people and communities to live healthier lives outside. Through innovative programs, cross-sector partnerships, and playful incentives, we help people build lasting habits of physical activity, outdoor time, and social connection. Our work centers equity, belonging, and joy, recognizing that access to the outdoors is not equal and must be intentionally created. We collaborate with communities to remove barriers, amplify lived experiences, and design welcoming pathways for all people to connect with nature. We believe everyone deserves to feel seen, safe, and included outside. We prioritize community voice, dignity, and shared leadership.