I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2014 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out programs and activities 
that connect Americans, especially children, youth, and families, with 
the outdoors. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 23, 2015 
Mr. KIND (for himself, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. WALZ, and Mr. 
QUIGLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out pro-
grams and activities that connect Americans, especially 
children, youth, and families, with the outdoors. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Healthy Kids Outdoors 
Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) Children today are spending less time out-
doors than any generation in human history, as evi-
denced by studies that show children enjoy half as 
much time outdoors today as they did just 20 years 
ago, while spending more than 71⁄2 hours every day 
in front of electronic media. 
(2) The health of our children is at risk as evi-
denced by the growing obesity crisis where, in the 
past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than dou-
bled in children and quadrupled in adolescents, cost-
ing the economy of the United States billions of dol-
lars each year. 
(3) Our military readiness is declining as nearly 
1 in 4 applicants to the military is rejected for being 
overweight or obese, which is the most common rea-
son for medical disqualification. 
(4) Research has shown that military children 
and families are facing increased stress and mental 
strain and challenges due to multiple, extended de-
ployments. Military family service organizations have 
developed programs that connect military children 
and families with positive, meaningful outdoor expe-
riences that benefit mental and physical health, but 
they lack sufficient resources to meet increasing de-
mand. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(5) In addition to the negative economic impact 
of childhood obesity, the outdoor retail industry, 
many local tourist destinations or ‘‘gateway commu-
nities’’, and State fish and wildlife agencies rely on 
revenue generated when individuals spend time out-
doors to create jobs in local communities. 
(6) Over the past several years, urbanization, 
changing land use patterns, increasing road traffic, 
and inadequate solutions to addressing these chal-
lenges in the built environment have combined to 
make it more difficult for many Americans to walk 
or bike to schools, parks, and play areas or experi-
ence the natural environment in general. 
(7) Spending time in green spaces outside the 
home, including public lands, parks, play areas, and 
gardens, can increase concentration, inhibition of 
initial impulses, and self-discipline, and has been 
shown to reduce stress and mental fatigue. In one 
study, children who were exposed to greener environ-
ments in a public housing area demonstrated less 
aggression, violence, and stress. 
(8) Visitation to our Nation’s public lands has 
declined or remained flat in recent years, and yet, 
connecting with nature and the great outdoors in 
our communities is critical to fostering the next gen-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
eration of outdoor enthusiasts who will visit, appre-
ciate, and become stewards of our Nation’s public 
lands. 
(9) Spending time outdoors in nature is bene-
ficial to our children’s physical, mental, and emo-
tional health and has been proven to decrease symp-
toms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, 
stimulate brain development, improve motor skills, 
result in better sleep, reduce stress, increase cre-
ativity, improve mood, and reduce children’s risk of 
developing myopia. 
(10) Children who spend time playing outside 
are more likely to take risks, seek out adventure, de-
velop self-confidence, and respect the value of na-
ture. A direct childhood experience with nature be-
fore the age of 11 promotes a long-term connection 
to nature. 
(11) Conservation education and outdoor recre-
ation experiences such as camping, hiking, boating, 
hunting, fishing, archery, recreational shooting, wild-
life watching, and others are critical to engaging 
young people in the outdoors. 
(12) As children become more disconnected 
from the natural world, the hunting and angling 
conservation legacy of America is at risk. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(13) Hunters and anglers play a critical role in 
reconnecting young people with nature, protecting 
our natural resources, and fostering a lifelong un-
derstanding of the value of conserving the natural 
world. 
(14) Research demonstrates that hunters who 
become engaged in hunting as children are among 
the most active and interested hunters as adults. 
The vast majority of hunters report they were intro-
duced to hunting between the ages of 10 and 12, 
and the overwhelming majority of children are intro-
duced to hunting by an adult. 
(15) Parks and recreation, youth-serving, serv-
ice-learning, conservation, health, education, and 
built-environment organizations, facilities, and per-
sonnel provide critical resources and infrastructure 
for connecting children and families with nature. 
(16) It takes many dedicated men and women 
to work to preserve, protect, enhance, and restore 
America’s natural resources, and with an aging 
workforce in the natural resource professions, it is 
critical for the next generation to have an apprecia-
tion for nature and be ready to take over these re-
sponsibilities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(17) Place-based service-learning opportunities 
use our lands and waters as the context for learning 
by engaging students in the process of exploration, 
action, and reflection. Physical activity outdoors con-
nected with meaningful community service to solve 
real-world problems, such as removing invasive 
plants or removing trash from a streambed, 
strengthens communities by engaging youth as cit-
izen stewards. 
(18) States nationwide and their community 
based partners have some notable programs that 
connect children and families with nature; however, 
most States lack sufficient resources and a com-
prehensive strategy to effectively engage State agen-
cies across multiple fields. 
(19) States need to engage in cross-sector agen-
cy and nonprofit collaboration that involves public 
health and wellness, parks and recreation, transpor-
tation and city planning, and other sectors focused 
on connecting children and families with the out-
doors to increase coordination and effective imple-
mentation of the policy tools and programs that a 
State can bring to bear to provide outdoor opportu-
nities for children and families. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT 
OR IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTHY KIDS 
OUTDOORS STATE STRATEGIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 
issue one cooperative agreement per State to eligible enti-
ties to develop, implement, and update a 5-year State 
strategy, to be known as a ‘‘Healthy Kids Outdoors State 
Strategy’’, designed to encourage Americans, especially 
children, youth, and families, to be physically active out-
doors. 
(b) SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL OF STRATEGIES.— 
(1) APPLICATIONS.—An application for a coop-
erative agreement under subsection (a) shall— 
(A) be submitted not later than 120 days 
after the Secretary publishes guidelines under 
subsection (f)(1); and 
(B) include a Healthy Kids Outdoors State 
Strategy meeting the requirements of sub-
section (c) or a proposal for development and 
submission of such a strategy. 
(2) APPROVAL OF STRATEGY; PEER REVIEW.— 
Not later than 90 days after submission of a 
Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy, the Sec-
retary shall, through a peer review process, approve 
or recommend changes to the strategy. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) STRATEGY UPDATE.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving funds under this section shall update its 
Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy at least once 
every 5 years. Continued funding under this section 
shall be contingent upon submission of such updated 
strategies and reports that document impact evalua-
tion methods consistent with the guidelines in sub-
section (f)(1) and lessons learned from implementing 
the strategy. 
(c) COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY REQUIREMENTS.— 
The Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) a description of how the eligible entity will 
encourage Americans, especially children, youth, and 
families, to be physically active in the outdoors 
through State, local, and tribal— 
(A) public health systems; 
(B) public parks and recreation systems; 
(C) public transportation and city planning 
systems; and 
(D) other public systems that connect 
Americans, especially children, youth, and fami-
lies, to the outdoors; 
(2) a description of how the eligible entity will 
partner with nongovernmental organizations, espe-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
cially those that serve children, youth, and families, 
including those serving military families and tribal 
agencies; 
(3) a description of how State agencies will col-
laborate with each other to implement the strategy; 
(4) a description of how funding will be spent 
through local planning and implementation sub-
grants under subsection (d); 
(5) a description of how the eligible entity will 
evaluate the effectiveness of, and measure the im-
pact of, the strategy, including an estimate of the 
costs associated with such evaluation; 
(6) a description of how the eligible entity will 
provide opportunities for public involvement in devel-
oping and implementing the strategy; 
(7) a description of how the strategy will in-
crease visitation to Federal public lands within the 
State; and 
(8) a description of how the eligible entity will 
leverage private funds to expand opportunities and 
further implement the strategy. 
(d) LOCAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Healthy Kids Outdoors 
State Strategy shall provide for subgrants by the co-
operative agreement recipient under subsection (a) 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
to local partners to implement the strategy through 
one or more of the program activities described in 
paragraph (2). 
(2) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—Program activities 
may include— 
(A) implementing outdoor recreation and 
youth mentoring programs that provide oppor-
tunities to experience the outdoors, be phys-
ically active, and teach skills for lifelong partici-
pation in outdoor activities, including fishing, 
hunting, recreational shooting, archery, hiking, 
camping, outdoor play in natural environments, 
and wildlife watching; 
(B) implementing programs that connect 
communities with safe parks, green spaces, and 
outdoor recreation areas through affordable 
public transportation and trail systems that en-
courage walking, biking, and increased physical 
activity outdoors; 
(C) implementing school-based programs 
that use outdoor learning environments, such as 
wildlife habitats or gardens, and programs that 
use service learning to restore natural areas 
and maintain recreational assets; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(D) implementing education programs for 
parents and caregivers about the health benefits 
of active time outdoors to fight obesity and in-
crease the quality of life for Americans, espe-
cially children, youth, and families. 
(e) PRIORITY.—In making cooperative agreements 
under subsection (a) and subgrants under subsection 
(d)(1), the Secretary and the recipient under subsection 
(a), respectively, shall give preference to entities that serve 
individuals who have limited opportunities to experience 
nature, including those who are socioeconomically dis-
advantaged or have a disability or suffer disproportion-
ately from physical and mental health stressors. 
(f) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and after notice and 
opportunity for public comment, the Secretary shall pub-
lish in the Federal Register guidelines on the implementa-
tion of this Act, including guidelines for— 
(1) developing and submitting strategies and 
evaluation methods under subsection (b); and 
(2) technical assistance and dissemination of 
best practices under section 7. 
(g) REPORTING.—Not later than 2 years after the 
Secretary approves the Healthy Kids Outdoors State 
Strategy of an eligible entity receiving funds under this 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:13 May 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2014.IH
H2014
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS