What is Outside Kind?
Every user gets outside for different reasons be it to stay fit, revel in open spaces, recreate, hunt and fish, enjoy wildlife, and be part of a wild landscape—and we all have a responsibility to take care of these resources.
One Montana joined forces with several other organizations to protect the people and places we love, and to explore ethical use issues that all recreational users need to know about. We want everyone to have a great experience, understand how to enjoy the outdoors while sharing it with others and treading lightly on the resource.
Please enjoy our 5 minute overview of Outside Kind.
Goals
The primary goal of Outside Kind is to share best practices, principles and tips for enjoying the outdoors in any community. Whether you wish to encourage your friends and family or visiting guests to hike kind, ride kind, fish kind, etc., Outside Kind is designed to offer users consistent and clear messages around outdoor activities, increase user knowledge, and maintain natural resources. We also encourage users to engage with organizations and communities that provide opportunities for you to enjoy our wild places. A good starting place is to take the Outside Kind Pledge and sign up to become an OK Ambassador.
Be Kind: Happy trails start with you
Being kind is an easy concept. Simply saying hello creates a friendly atmosphere and encourages others to do the same. Kindness is contagious.
Be Cool: Open space for every pace
Each trail user is a fellow outdoor enthusiast. Be cool and respectful when interacting with others and know that people come out to the trails for different reasons.
Be Aware: Understanding conditions is critical.
Observe weather and trail conditions and be mindful of guidelines for each trail system. Awareness helps create a positive trail experience for all and conserves resources. And be prepared with a plan B if trail conditions are too muddy.
Are you Outside Kind? Take the Quiz to find out.
Click the icon below to find your OK guidelines.
Hike Kind
Ski Kind
Wag Kind
Fish Kind
Ride Kind
Run Kind
Trot Kind
One Montana
One Montana (1MT) works to sustain a vibrant Montana by supporting private land stewardship, maintaining working lands, preserving our cultural heritage, and connecting rural and urban communities. In 2021, as part of our Montana Way Program, One Montana launched the Outside Kind Campaign to address some of the challenges and conflicts our communities are experiencing due to increased use on our public trails and waterways, and reduce negative effects of human activities on our public resources.
Our Inspiration
Outside Kind was inspired by a number of simultaneous events and efforts happening across the country and we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge them and the role they have played in the development of this campaign. There are many great efforts happening across the country that we salute and can’t mention all of them here. The following are a few of the efforts that inspired us to develop Outside Kind.
Ski Kind, a brand within Play Kind, was created by Winter Wildlands Alliance and Granite Backcountry Alliance. Launched in October 2020, Ski Kind aims to encourage winter adventurers of all stripes to follow a common Backcountry Code of Ethics that is rooted in being kind — to the land, to critters, and to other users.
Prickly Pear Land Trust Trail Tips—Helena, MT
Ridge to Rivers—Boise, ID
TrailMix—Moab, UT
Telluride Mountain Club Trails Campaign—Telluride, CO
Jefferson County Open Space Plans for Bikers and Hikers—Golden, CO
Volunteer Trail Rangers—Prescott, AZ
A huge thank you to Sarah Keller who coined the name Outside Kind!
“The environment, after all, is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest. It is one thing that all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become.”
Lady Bird Johnson
