OUR APPROACH

Why Outdoor Connection Is at the Heart of MAF

For MAF, fishing, camping, and time outside are more than activities. They are settings for connection, discovery, and community.

JULY 24, 2026 · MERSADES ANN FOUNDATION

Hope takes root outside. That idea sits at the center of the Mersades Ann Foundation’s work with children impacted by parental incarceration. MAF uses outdoor experiences to create a different kind of space—one shaped by patience, hands-on learning, steady support, and time together.

Research context

A 2021 systematic review in Pediatrics screened 10,940 records and included 296 studies of nature contact and children’s health. The strongest bodies of evidence concerned physical activity and cognitive, behavioral, or mental health.

The authors also noted that 69% of the included studies were cross-sectional, which limits conclusions about cause and effect. The research supports a positive relationship with nature contact; it does not prove that any particular program guarantees an outcome.

Source: Pediatrics, Nature and Children’s Health: A Systematic Review

Space to slow down and connect

A fishing day or camping experience gives children, families, mentors, and volunteers something meaningful to do together. Shared activity can create room for conversation without making conversation the only focus. MAF’s own story began with the connection Scott Morgan and his daughter Mersades Ann rebuilt through fishing. That history continues to shape the foundation’s belief in the value of shared time outdoors.

Hands-on moments of discovery

Outdoor experiences invite curiosity. Learning to cast a line, spending time in green space, or taking part in a camping retreat can offer new moments of focus and discovery. MAF designs its programs around learning, emotional resilience, and spiritual growth. The goal is not to define children by what their families have experienced, but to welcome them with dignity and create room for confidence and belonging.

Community around the experience

The outdoors may be the setting, but community makes each experience possible. Families, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and local partners each contribute time, care, resources, or encouragement. That shared effort reflects the foundation’s guiding language: Connect. Seek. A-line. It is a reminder that meaningful support begins with connection and continues through action.

See the mission for yourself

The best way to understand MAF’s outdoor-centered approach is to follow its current events and opportunities. Event availability and participation details vary, so use the official Events page for the latest information.

View MAF events · Back to the blog

Be part of the community

Volunteers and community partners help create the steady support around each outdoor experience.

Volunteer · Sponsor