Under the auspices of the CCNY Outdoor Club, CCNY built an internship program with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) established a summer leadership program for students at their Harriman Outdoor Center facility, and planned a series of outings. At the core of the project, though, was a vision that I think is entirely consonant with the larger mission of CCNY—that the use and stewardship of the outdoors needs to be democratized, in the same ways that our educational missions seek to democratize opportunity.

The renamed CCNY Outdoor Program, now under the auspices of the President's Office, will leverage our partnerships with external groups like The Appalachian Mountain Club and share the resources of those partnerships to provide opportunities to faculty, students and staff who are interested in conservation and recreational outdoor activities.

The Program will continue to sponsor a range of outdoor activities aimed at broadening access and understanding of the natural environment, promoting the skills and knowledge that underpin outdoor recreation, and in both ways develop a broader cohort of stewards for the wild and natural spaces around us, including those in our immediate community. Moreover, one of the recommendations of the Working Group on Diversity & Inclusion was that the College develop opportunities, outside the classroom and across the divisions of department and job classification, for the CCNY community to socialize together - which opportunities, several times a year, to hike or kayak or camp together as a school fits the bill nicely.

All are welcome. If you have any questions please email outdoorsccny@ccny.cuny.edu .