NYC's OutdoorFest Begins June 11

Photo by Dan Tyson

NYC’s OutdoorFest is a ten-day outdoor festival that starts on June 11 and features over 80 outdoor events in all five boroughs. The mission of OutdoorFest is to connect New Yorker's with all of the amazing outdoor activities available right in their backyard. From rock climbing and surfing, to mountain biking and kayaking there is something for everyone. The festival kicks off with the Official Outdoorfest Overnight Campout that includes a 5K night trail run, concert by Silver City Bound, survival skills, beer by Sierra Nevada, and much more. We spoke with OutdoorFest founder Sarah Knapp about what to expect at this year's festival. For more information on OutdoorFest visit www.outdoorfest.com.

How did you come up with the concept for OutdoorFest? OutdoorFest is a product of my love for nature and for living in a city. The idea that there are two sides of so many of us is the basis for the entire festival: we crave both the hustle and excitement of the urban experience along with the great expanses and natural beauty of the outdoors. OutdoorFest is also based on the notion that amazing resources already exist in urban centers and that creating a network of resources is the best way to initiate long term engagement with outdoor recreation. What are you most excited for at this year's OutdoorFest? This year, I'm most excited for our campout. Along with an intense 5K trail race in the dark we'll have workshops from local experts on everything from fire making to storytelling through the Outside Magazine podcast. Plus, the incredible Americana group Silver City Bound will be closing the night with a live performance on a stage tucked into the woods at the campground. What are some of your favorite outdoor activities? My favorite outdoor activity is skiing but I'm pretty happy doing all of it. Especially in the summer, I appreciate the slow and steady rhythms of sports like canoeing and hiking. How many OurdoorFest participants do you estimate this year? That's hard to say because we have so many different events going on. Our campout will have 200 people and our expo more like 400, while some events like sailing are limited to 4 people for a super intimate experience.