The Social Landscape Movement: Connecting People Through The Outdoors

Chico, CA, July 22, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Christa Melton, Founder of Outdoor Trunk, wants to change the way people connect with their communities and each other. It’s a movement she’s calling “Social Landscape.”

Defined simply as “connecting people outdoors,” Social Landscape is built around the idea of creating spaces to promote social connections. The beauty is that these spaces can happen in the simplest of forms: community parks, local gathering places such as an ice cream shop with an inviting space to slow down, eat and mingle with those around you or even your own front porch designed to signal neighbors are welcome to stop by and stay a bit. Enjoy any one of these spaces and you’re participating in Social Landscape. It’s not hard, yet it seems to be happening less and less.

Technology, busy schedules and sometimes even fear have all led to the decrease in people connecting with their surrounding worlds and instead stay locked up in their fortress of four walls. It’s a trend Melton finds troubling. “Staying locked inside our homes harbors our ability to connect as families, neighbors and communities. Evidence suggests that places with a clear sense of identity attract, and keep, people who want to be there and contribute. The Social Landscape movement is a way to help fortify our communities starting with our own neighbors. Think about the power a welcoming space can have to help build bridges and create conversation. What people don’t realize is that Social Landscape happens all the time and all around us but is so easily taken for granted.”

Melton, when challenged with the question of why outdoor space when we build welcoming spaces inside our homes replies, “Why limit yourself to four walls? There are no walls outside, just freedom and space to invite, enjoy and connect. I created Outdoor Trunk as a vehicle to grow this movement and inspire people to build connections from their inner circle outwards to the greater community. Think about what we can accomplish if we approach each other openly through simple experiences building relationships that can result in ideas, solutions and simple human kindness.”

To learn more about how you can get involved in the movement, visit OutdoorTrunk.com.

Outdoor Trunk is a Chico, CA based company built out of a passion for creating outdoor spaces that inspire, are designed to gather, are meaningful and that connect people. Founder Christa Melton is fueled with the passion of sharing of what’s called “Social Landscape” – a movement to create outdoor spaces that open doors and unlock the potential that connection with people brings. Through their website, blog and videos, Outdoor Trunk is teaching how to expand ones living space beyond the traditional four walls. You can visit them at www.OutdoorTrunk.com or call 530.899.1616.