Nature presents an open invitation for learning and growth, supporting a child’s physical and mental health and academic achievement. Many children living in lower-income urban areas have limited access to the outdoors. Addressing this nature deficit is a matter of health equity. Velma Bailey, a schoolteacher for 26 years and a community volunteer for most of her life, started Camp Sun Splash, a program of the grassroots non-profit Saint Louis Torchbearers 2. As a passionate advocate for inner city youth and developing future leaders, Velma opens doors to the wonders of the natural world for children with little experience of the outdoors, and for whom activities such as hiking, swimming and environmental studies are life changing.

Learn more about the 2022 Award for Health Equity winners: https://rwjf.ws/419vrMz
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to improving health and health equity in the United States. In partnership with others, we are working to develop a Culture of Health rooted in equity that provides every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have. For more information, visit http://www.rwjf.org.

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