Children & Nature Network

Federal crackdowns on initiatives relating to environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion are impacting communities. “I think that our Black youth are the most vulnerable,” said Chuck Morse, Executive Director of the nonprofit ThriveNOLA, in response to the threat of funding cuts to their six-week summer camp for middle- and high-schoolers. The program teaches campers about native biodiversity, flood resilience, and waste literacy and management. “We have so many other things we’re focused on in life … that we don’t focus on [the environment]. I want people to see how important this is … and how to become good stewards.” Despite challenges, these Black-led climate groups are pushing back. Read more here. https://bit.ly/4bhSlGG Young, Gifted & Green™ #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #BlackYouth #ChildrenAndNature

Community engagement can take a lot of forms — from tabling at a community event to asking children to draw their ideal playground. The goal is always the same: to ensure that programs and initiatives center the needs and the opportunities of their communities. In our latest Finding Nature News, three Nature Everywhere Communities share a few approaches to community engagement that have worked for them. “There’s a lot of wisdom in the network,” says Priya Cook, Director of Green Schoolyards & Communities. “If someone has figured out the best approach to something or uncovered a pitfall that others may want to avoid, we can use peer-to-peer connections to help accelerate each other's learning.” 📚 Ready to learn? https://bit.ly/4k96Lg3 KABOOM! National League of Cities Priya Cook #FindingNatureNews #NatureEverywhereCommunities

“At first I was having a little bit of imposter syndrome, like, ‘Do I deserve to be here?’” But to resounding applause from more than 550 children and nature leaders attending the conference, Atiya Wells joyfully exclaimed, “I do!” In 2022, Atiya Wells was honored with the inaugural Richard Louv Prize in Nature Connection. Wells transformed a neglected 10-acre plot in Baltimore, Maryland, into BLISS Meadows, a space for nature-based play, learning, and a community garden providing fresh food. We are accepting nominations for the 2025 Richard Louv Prize through May 20, 2025. If you know someone who is doing exemplary work to advance equitable access to nature, we want to hear from you! Nominate now on our website. Backyard Basecamp, Inc. RICHARD LOUV, INC. Richard Louv Atiya Wells #RichardLouvPrize #AtiyaWells #NatureEverywhere #Conference #ChildrenAndNature

“You’re losing people who are teaching youth the value of protecting and preserving these places for current and future generations,” former park ranger Brian Gibbs said. Recent cuts to the U.S. federal workforce have affected public land management agencies, with a combined loss of approximately 4,400 workers in the USDA Forest Service and National Park Service alone. The consequences of widespread terminations are myriad, with potential impacts to public health and safety, as well as to natural resources and areas. And, of course, the quality and quantity of educational programs and resources that staff can offer will also be impacted — affecting all park visitors and members of the public, including young people and families. Check out this article for more about how recent terminations have affected federal employees — and the people and places they serve. https://n.pr/3D1pBVY #FederalWorkforce #Resources #RoundUp #ChildrenAndNature

Today and every day, we celebrate Black leaders in the children and nature movement. These changemakers are breaking down barriers to connect more communities to the benefits of nature and paving green career pathways for youth — driving a brighter future for all. Here are just a few of those leaders, whose work within the children and nature movement we have featured in the past year. https://bit.ly/3X9MoWw #BlackHistoryMonth #Leaders #Community #ChildrenAndNature

“Nature journaling is restorative,” explains Penn State Associate Teaching Professor Lucy McClain, “giving people a chance to slow down, disconnect from the stressors of daily life, and pay attention to their surroundings.” A recent study found that adults and youth find different but fulfilling benefits from nature journaling — the practice of using words or pictures to capture nature observations. While adults are drawn to the fellowship and community-building aspects of nature journaling, youth predominantly enjoy the opportunities for authentic and up-close encounters with natural phenomena. The study also suggests that nature journaling may have a beneficial effect on mental health. Read more here. https://bit.ly/41u9sBX #RoundUp #NatureJournaling #ChildrenAndNature

Question: What does this delightful drawing of a playground have in common with a well-organized spreadsheet of organizations supporting nature connection? Answer: They’re both tools our Nature Everywhere Communities have used for community engagement. Community engagement is a process that organizations and entities use to collaborate with their communities. It can take a lot of different forms, but its goals are always the same: Ensuring that their initiatives center the values, needs and opportunities of the community. By doing that, organizations help forge community buy-in and commitment to shared outcomes. In our latest Finding Nature News story, we explore a few different community engagement approaches that Nature Everywhere teams have used to successfully gather input and ideas from families, young people and other community members. Check it out here. https://bit.ly/4k96Lg3 KABOOM! National League of Cities #NatureEverywhereCommunities #NatureEverywhere #ChildrenAndNature

If you’ve been waiting for more details before registering for the 2025 Nature Everywhere Conference, now is the time. We’ve just published our conference schedule on our website, including a first look at our lineup of breakout sessions and speakers. Topics covered during breakout sessions and early riser talks will include: 🍂 Nature and loose parts in the urban environment 📈 Leveraging data to tell the story of programmatic impact 🧠 Fostering emergent learning and curiosity in nature 📢 Growing the next generation of youth leaders 🏛️ The future of youth outdoor policy ✏️ Collaborative design and pedagogy for student and teacher well-being 📍 Ripple effects mapping … and so much more! The 2025 program will feature inspiring keynotes (to be announced soon!), engaging breakout sessions, early riser introductory talks, attendee-organized meetups and opportunities for networking. Covering a range of subjects and featuring speakers from across the U.S. and around the world, there’s something for everyone. Join us in Saint Paul, Minnesota, May 13-16, 2025, to be part of this global movement. Take a look at the schedule at the link below and register today — we can’t wait for you to join the movement! https://bit.ly/4ahdZZj #NatureEverywhere2025 #ChildrenAndNature #OutdoorEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking

Quinta Mazatlán, a historical estate and nature center in McAllen, Texas, was recently awarded a $2.7 million grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service to partner with the McAllen Independent School District (ISD) and build seven Schoolyard Forests on elementary school grounds. These Schoolyard Forests will: 🌳 Expand outdoor learning spaces 🌎 Provide shade & cool neighborhoods 💧 Help mitigate flooding 🌱 Increase tree canopy by up to 30% at each campus They will receive additional support as participants of the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, a partnership among the Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities and KABOOM! to increase equitable access to nature. Read more here! https://bit.ly/4gJb7Yy National League of Cities KABOOM! #Schoolyards #Nature #Texas #Schoolgrounds #ChildrenAndNature

A global survey of 10,000 young people recently found that 59% were very or extremely worried about climate change. How can you help? Additional evidence demonstrates that nearly one-third of disaster-affected people may experience challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression — an especially concerning statistic amid record-breaking high temperatures and extreme weather events. Here are three promising strategies to support youth and ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to navigate the world they’re inheriting. https://bit.ly/3QjHTVt #RoundUp #ClimateChange #ChildrenAndNature