One Parent’s Perspective: Why I’m Committing to Spending More Time Outdoors This Summer

By Glen Weiner
June 17, 2026

This post is part of the “One Parent’s Perspective” blog series in which I explore topics related to youth mental health and wellbeing. I share my perspective as a parent and in my role leading the Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF), including what I learn from my own experiences as well as conversations with experts, educators and young people themselves.

As a parent, I spend a lot of time thinking about what my kids need to thrive. Like many families, we’ve watched conversations about youth mental health grow louder in recent years. We hear concerns about anxiety, loneliness, stress and the pressures that young people face every day. We also hear a lot of debate about what is causing these challenges and what solutions might help.

While there is no single answer, it is clear to me that our kids need more opportunities to get outside. June is Great Outdoors Month and the perfect chance to encourage your kids to embrace all that nature has to offer. This national celebration recognizes the benefits that outdoor recreation and access to nature provide for individuals, families and communities and is a reminder that some of the most powerful tools for supporting mental wellbeing are often right outside our front doors.

Research shows that spending time outdoors can improve mood, reduce stress, encourage physical activity, strengthen social connections and provide a much-needed break from the pressures of daily life. Whether it is a walk through the neighborhood, a family bike ride, an afternoon at a local park or a weekend hike, time spent outdoors can help children and adults alike feel more grounded and connected.

As parents, we often search for solutions that are simple, practical and within our control. One of the easiest is simply spending more time together outside.  

That is why I decided to make a commitment this summer. Before my kids head off to sleepaway camp, I want our family to be more intentional about spending time outdoors. Instead of rushing from one activity to the next, I want us to carve out time for evening walks on one of the nearby trails, visits to our local nature reserves or state parks and find opportunities to explore places we have never been before. I want us to spend more time looking at trees, trails, lakes and sunsets. 

When my kids return from camp, I hope we will continue that commitment. Summer has a way of reminding us what matters. The challenge will be carrying those lessons into the months that follow.

It’s encouraging to see that many Americans appear to be thinking along similar lines. Recent research from  the Coalition to Empower our Future found that voters and parents strongly support comprehensive approaches to addressing youth mental health challenges. Rather than focusing on a single cause or a single solution, people recognize that young people’s wellbeing is shaped by many factors. They support a range of strategies that help kids build resilience, strengthen relationships, stay active and develop healthy habits.

Raising healthy children has never been about one thing. It is about creating environments that help kids flourish. More time outdoors is not the entire answer, but it is an important piece of a much larger picture.

The Coalition to Empower our Future is proud to support that broader vision. We recently signed on to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s America’s Outdoor Era Commitment, which seeks to expand outdoor access and encourage more Americans to experience the physical and mental health benefits of recreation and time spent in nature.

I believe efforts like these are important because they focus on adding positive opportunities to children’s lives. Instead of concentrating solely on restrictions, they encourage activities that help young people build confidence, connection and wellbeing.

As summer begins, I encourage other parents to consider making their own outdoor commitment. It does not have to be ambitious. You do not need expensive equipment or elaborate travel plans. A walk after dinner, a visit to a nearby playground or park, a family picnic or a morning spent exploring a local trail can make a meaningful difference. 

The challenges facing young people today are real, and there is no single solution that will solve them overnight. But there are steps we can take right now to help our children lead healthier, happier lives.

For my family, one of those steps will be spending more time outdoors this summer. I am looking forward to it, and I hope you will join us.

###