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MCC Daily Tribune

SUNY Chancellor King Launches Outdoors for All Program

Chancellor Announced the Outdoors for All Program at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, which Earned One of the Initial Grants 

Grants Awarded to 13 SUNY Institutions to Engage Students and New Yorkers of all Ages with Nature and Improve Participation in Outdoor Activities 

Syracuse, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the launch of SUNY’s “Outdoors for All” program to promote inclusivity, sustainability, wellness, and community development. The program was included in Chancellor King’s 2025 State of the University Policy Agenda, and is designed to empower more students, and New Yorkers of all ages and from all backgrounds, with opportunities to enjoy the state’s natural beauty. The Outdoors for All program will provide grants to support individual SUNY campus efforts to facilitate year-round outdoor opportunities and encourage ties between co-curricular activities and academic and career opportunities in sustainability. 

The “Outdoors for All” program grant recipients will use these funds to develop new outdoor programming, create new and improve existing outdoor spaces, and purchase equipment and supplies that can be used to engage more students with nature and improve participation in outdoor activities both on- and off-campus.  

“With the launch of SUNY’s Outdoors for All program, we are working to ensure that our students have access to inclusive, welcoming, and accessible outdoor spaces on- and off-campus,” SUNY Chancellor King said. “Through this program, more students and New Yorkers of all ages will have access to hands-on and engaging experiences that will hopefully inspire a life-long love of nature and demonstrate that there is a place at SUNY every New Yorker – both indoors and outdoors.” 

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Thanks to the strong support from Governor Hochul and state leaders, SUNY is able to support our students, and all New Yorkers, to better enjoy the beautiful diversity of our great state. Through the Outdoors for All program launched by Chancellor King, SUNY campuses will be able to demonstrate clear plans to help more New Yorkers have access to our state’s natural beauty, and receive grants to bring those plans to life.” 

The “Outdoors for All” program is the latest climate initiative announced by Chancellor King and supports the SUNY Climate and Sustainability Action Plan’s commitment to engage students on sustainability issues along with SUNY’s diversity, equity, and inclusion pillar. Thirteen campus proposals will each receive an $8,000 grant award.  

Chancellor King especially highlighted the winning grant proposal from SUNY ESF as an example of how campuses can involve their students in planning, organizing, and implementing educational programming for K-12 students. Through paid and volunteer opportunities, SUNY ESF students are reaching more local K-12 students and thereby inspiring more New Yorkers to love nature and enjoy the state’s natural beauty. SUNY ESF has several student clubs related to outdoor activities and leads K-12 outdoor outreach programs to connect students to their local environment.  

SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney said, “The great outdoors is central to our mission at ESF. From the evolution of the Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute to the wide-reaching K-12 programming our faculty and staff have built and grown, we are active and engaged. We appreciate SUNY for highlighting the relevance of experiential learning. New York is mountains, lakes, rural and urban landscapes, and everything in between. We look forward to being an integral part as SUNY continues to advance outdoor education.” 

Other campuses receiving funding through the grant program includes: 

  • ·SUNY Adirondack will offer an all-year outdoor classroom and recreation space directly tied to academic coursework and with a focus on ADA compliance and accessibility. The space will be a hub for wellness programming, continuing education courses, and summer enrichment programming. 
  • SUNY Canton will address barriers to accessing outdoor spaces by providing equipment, training, and increased programming for the campus community. The campus will offer student staff training, including wilderness first aid, beginner skills clinics, and provide winter gear and first aid kits for rental. 
  • SUNY Corning will improve the accessibility and exposure of the Spencer Crest Nature and Research Center, reintroducing it to the campus community with digital and physical accessible trail maps, new signage, and spaces for accessible outdoor seating. As part of the funding, Empire State Service Corps Civics interns will organize student events. 
  • SUNY Farmingdale State College will provide free “Ram Rides,” a bike rental program, increasing student access to recreational activities that are sustainable, equitable, and outside.  
  • SUNY Fredonia will establish an accessible and sustainable sensory garden featuring New York native species, and purchase and strategically locate ADA accessible benches. 
  • SUNY Old Westbury will incorporate the new Campus Environmental Education Center (CEEC) to expand on outdoor offerings through co-curricular programs and applied learning opportunities by: integrating opportunities with the curriculum, improving trail information and targeted promotion; increase campus engagement with the formation of a Trail Club, and offer structured and unstructured opportunities for the campus community. 
  • SUNY Oneonta will utilize the Nature RX network to provide accessible wellness and skills-building activities, purchase essential outdoor equipment, and expand affinity-based outdoor programming throughout the academic year. 
  • SUNY Orange will re-launch its “Step into Orange” walking club, aimed to increase participation and accessibility. As part of the funding, SUNY Orange will cover the cost of transportation to regional outdoor spaces for students wishing to participate. 
  • SUNY Oswego will address key issues at the Rice Creek Field Station (located a mile away from campus) by resurfacing existing trails, replacing old features such as seating and railings with new accessible and/or ADA-compliant features, and providing new signage.   
  • SUNY Plattsburgh will use its grant to improve the Rugar Woods Trail with a new main entrance signage with additional information for guests, as well as improved signage and maps. 
  • SUNY Polytechnic Institute will improve and expand its existing Greenhouse Garden to create a central Outdoor Sustainability & Wellness Hub, which will include a disc golf course, and add accessible outdoor infrastructure in the form of seating, tables, and shade structures. 
  • SUNY Ulster will create a kid-friendly, family-friendly multi-use outdoor space, acknowledging adult learners and SUNY Reconnect students who are parents or caregivers and may need to bring family members onto campus.   

Studies have shown that immersion in nature is beneficial for student health and that student involvement in co-curricular experiences like student organizations, community service, and service-learning is positively related to academic performance, cognitive development, well-being, leadership, and multicultural awareness. In a recent survey of SUNY campuses, all respondents identified at least one outdoor activity that they offer — including fishing and hiking clubs; adventure activities like rope courses, challenge courses, and alternative spring break hiking trips; outdoor leadership programs; and water and winter sports such as kayaking, skiing, and snowboarding. Additionally, several campuses offer academic courses relating to the outdoors and have dedicated spaces for outdoor activities, including trails, campgrounds, and outdoor education facilities that provide students with hands-on learning experiences. The outdoor recreational industry in New York generates $17 billion in wages and salaries and nearly 250,000 jobs.   

State Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Toby Ann Stavisky said, “I am delighted to see SUNY leading efforts that connect students with the natural beauty of our state while promoting wellness, sustainability, and inclusion. The Outdoors for All program not only encourages healthier lifestyles and environmental stewardship, but also strengthens the connection between classroom learning and real-world experiences. These investments will help students build community, develop practical skills, and appreciate the shared responsibility we all have to protect New York’s environment.” 

Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the New York State Assembly Higher Education Committee said, “I commend SUNY and Chancellor King for launching the Outdoors for All program, a visionary initiative that expands access to New York’s natural spaces for students and communities across our state. By promoting inclusivity, wellness, and environmental stewardship, this program not only enhances student life but also helps prepare the next generation of leaders in sustainability. With New York’s outdoor recreation industry supporting nearly 250,000 jobs and generating $17 billion in wages, this initiative is a smart investment in our people, our environment, and our economy.” 

About The State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.  

 

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Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
10/13/2025