NRT supports a national effort to increase outdoor exploration among SE Massachusetts youth

The North Face has awarded an Explore Fund grant to the Natural Resources Trustof Easton for a program series called Survive and Thrive Outdoors in 2013! The Explore Fund’s mission is to inspire andenable the next generation of explorers by funding non-profit organizations that are working to re-connect children withnature. By encouraging an active healthy lifestyle and protection of our natural landscapes, a stronger connection of youth to the outdoors can be nurtured. The NRT’s Survive and Thrive Outdoors in 2013 programs will foster involvementin outdoor activities through workshops, classes, vacation programs, and more. Using the NRT’s beautiful 154-acreSheep Pasture property as the setting, each event and program sponsored by the grant will have interactive, hands-onoutdoor experiences for participants. NRT was selected from more than 900 applications submitted for the first of twogrant cycles in 2012, because of their commitment to providing meaningful environmental education and communityprograms. Since The North Face Explore Fund was initiated in 2010, The North Face has provided more than $1 Million ingrants to non-profits all over the world working to connect youth to the outdoors, with more than three quarters of thatgoing to programs in the United States.

“This grant provides a wonderful opportunity for the NRT to enhance its programming and reach more children thanever before,” says NRT Executive Director Jen Cummings. “We feel that involving children and their families in outdooractivities is a perfect way to not only appreciate the natural world, but become healthier and more active individuals inall areas of life.”

The Natural Resources Trust of Easton was established in 1967 to preserve land and resources of cultural and environmental importance for the benefit of the public. The NRT owns and operates its flagship property, Sheep Pastureon Main Street in Easton. The NRT allows community access to 154-acre property for passive recreation every daythroughout the year, free of charge, and also uses the property as its base of operations for educational programs andevents. Since it’s founding, the organization has also grown to offer environmental education programs to over 4,000school children each year as well as community events, workshops, and classes. The NRT of Easton has been able toadvance the mission exponentially by working closely with several important partner organizations throughout Easton,Brockton, and surrounding towns.

“There can be so many barriers to getting kids outdoors, whether it be a disability, health resources or simply a lack ofaccess. A large percentage of the grants went toward funding organizations that are addressing these issues by providing The North Face Explore Fund Awards Grant to access and education,” said Ann Krcik, director of Outdoor Exploration at The North Face.

“We believe that if you can getkids to love the outdoors, not only will they develop skills that will help them throughout life, but they will grow up tocare about their natural world, protecting and conserving the wild places they explore”

NRT’s Survive and Thrive Outdoors in 2013 program series will launch on Saturday, January 26, 2013 with the 2013 Winter Expo, featuring fun outdoor winter activities for the whole family. Admission and parking to the Expo are freefor everyone and vendors specializing in winter gear and activities are welcome to contact the NRT for inclusion in the Expo! Other programs in the series will run through June 1, 2013.

To learn more about the NRT and Survive and ThriveOutdoors programs that are scheduled, visit the NRT’s website at www.nrtofeaston.org and click on the Events page.For more information about The North Face Explore Fund, please visit www.explorefund.org .
About the Natural Resources Trust of Easton
The Natural Resources Trust of Easton is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving land and resources ofcultural and environmental significance for the benefit of the community. Begun in 1967, the organization provides landstewardship for environmentally protected areas, public access for passive outdoor recreation, environmental educationfor students and families, and community events and programs. NRT’s administrative office and education services arelocated at the NRT’s flagship property, Sheep Pasture, located in Easton, MA.
About The North Face®The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, thecompany offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers,snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering,backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retailchains.