(12) As children become more disconnected 
from the natural world, the hunting and angling 
conservation legacy of America is at risk. 
(13) 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. 
(14) 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. 
(15) 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. 
(16) A direct childhood experience with nature 
before the age of 11 promotes a long-term connec-
tion to nature. 
(17) Parks and recreation, youth-serving, serv-
ice-learning, conservation, health, education, and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
built-environment organizations, facilities, and per-
sonnel provide critical resources and infrastructure 
for connecting children and families with nature. 
(18) 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. 
(19) 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. 
(20) 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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
State can bring to bear to provide healthy outdoor 
opportunities for children and families. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a State; or 
(B) a consortium from one State that may 
include such State and municipalities, entities 
of local or tribal governments, parks and recre-
ation departments or districts, school districts, 
institutions of higher education, or nonprofit or-
ganizations. 
(2) LOCAL PARTNERS.—The term ‘‘local part-
ners’’ means a municipality, entity of local or tribal 
government, parks and recreation departments or 
districts, Indian tribe, school district, institution of 
higher education, nonprofit organization, or a con-
sortium of local partners. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Com-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any 
other territory or possession of the United States, or 
any Indian tribe. 
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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy, the Sec-
retary shall, through a peer review process, approve 
or recommend changes to the strategy. 
(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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(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-
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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(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) 
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-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
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 
(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— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(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 
section, and every year thereafter, the eligible entity shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the implementation 
of the strategy based on the entity’s evaluation and assess-
ment of meeting the goals specified in the strategy. 
(h) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving funding under subsection (a) for a fiscal year— 
(1) may use not more than 5 percent of the 
funding for administrative expenses; and 
(2) shall use at least 95 percent of the funding 
for subgrants to local partners under subsection (d). 
(i) MATCH.—An eligible entity receiving funding 
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall provide a 25- 
percent match through in-kind contributions or cash. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING AMERI-
CANS TO BE ACTIVE OUTDOORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2012, the President, in cooperation with appropriate Fed-
eral departments and agencies, shall develop and issue a 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
national strategy for encouraging Americans, especially 
children, youth, and families, to be physically active out-
doors. Such a strategy shall include— 
(1) identification of barriers to Americans, es-
pecially children, youth, and families, spending 
healthy time outdoors and specific policy solutions to 
address those barriers; 
(2) identification of opportunities for partner-
ships with Federal, State, tribal, and local partners; 
(3) coordination of efforts among Federal de-
partments and agencies to address the impacts of 
Americans, especially children, youth, and families, 
spending less active time outdoors on— 
(A) public health, including childhood obe-
sity, attention deficit disorders and stress; 
(B) the future of conservation in the 
United States; and 
(C) the economy; 
(4) identification of ongoing research needs to 
document the health, conservation, economic, and 
other outcomes of implementing the national strat-
egy and State strategies; 
(5) coordination and alignment with Healthy 
Kids Outdoors State Strategies; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(6) an action plan for implementing the strat-
egy at the Federal level. 
(b) STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION.—Throughout the 
process of developing the national strategy under 
subsection (a), the President may use, incorporate, 
or otherwise consider existing Federal plans and 
strategies that, in whole or in part, contribute to 
connecting Americans, especially children, youth, 
and families, with the outdoors and shall provide for 
public participation, including a national summit of 
participants with demonstrated expertise in encour-
aging individuals to be physically active outdoors in 
nature. 
(2) UPDATING THE NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The 
President shall update the national strategy not less 
than 5 years after the date the first national strat-
egy is issued under subsection (a), and every 5 years 
thereafter. In updating the strategy, the President 
shall incorporate results of the evaluation under sec-
tion 6. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL EVALUATION OF HEALTH IMPACTS. 
The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:14 Nov 09, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3353.IH
H3353
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS