TOC's Next Generation Branch

For over 104 years, The Outdoor Circle has strived and successfully been able to protect Hawai‘i’s natural landscape from numerous threats. The organization is highly respected across the State and is a brand with immense power when mobilized against threats against keeping Hawai‘i clean, green and beautiful. Now there is an additional resource that TOC has aiding its cause, the Next Generation Branch (NGB), which formed in October of 2015.

Founded by Myles Ritchie (President) and Blaze Smith (Vice President), the NGB was designed to attract a different demographic than has been traditionally associated with The Outdoor Circle. Individuals aged 18-30 are the primary target members of this new branch with the hopes of bringing different perspectives to ongoing and hot-topic environmental issues. While this is merely the targeted age, no one will be turned away due to their age, and all are welcomed to join this branch. On top of bringing alternative solutions to problems threatening the environmental beauty of the islands, the NGB has been designed to carryout frequent hands-on activities and beautification events to better not only the environment itself, but also the greater Hawaiian community as a whole. Each month, the NGB holds at least one beautification event ranging from park and stream cleanups to tree plantings. As of now, there have already been three events put on by the NGB as seen with a cleanup/planting at the Manoa Public Library (in partnership with the Manoa Branch), a massive cleanup at Ala Moana Park and the latest being a stream cleanup on March 5th in partnership with the Honolulu Botanical Gardens at their Lili’uokalani location.
 
As of yet, in only a few short months, The Next Generation Branch has had 80 members sign up to be apart of this newly formed Outdoor Circle branch focused on hands-on activities and events. With an overwhelmingly positive response from Next Generation Branch members, other TOC branches and various City and County departments (active partnerships are currently being formed to facilitate future events), there appears to be no limit as to how successful this new branch can be. As time progresses, the Next Generation Branch is excited to work with other TOC branches and community groups to help keep Hawaii clean, green and beautiful for generations to come. With that being said, it is time to get outside, protect the environment, plant new trees and make a positive difference for all who call our beautiful Hawaiian paradise home. 
 
Should you or anyone you know wish to participate in any Next Generation Branch events, please visit “The Outdoor Circle - Next Generation Branch” Facebook page, or contact Myles Ritchie (myles@outdoorcircle.org) or Blaze Smith (blaze@outdoorcircle.org) for more details.
 
We look forward to seeing you soon at an upcoming event.

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