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Nevada enacts multiple bills to integrate outdoor education in public schools

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Nevada enacts multiple bills to integrate outdoor education in public schools

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After over a year of research, bilingual public input, and bipartisan collaboration with support from Nature Everywhere, the interim Nevada Outdoor Advisory Working (AWG) Group released their report to the state legislature. This report included recommendations for building outdoor education capacity, focusing on outdoor learning infrastructure, curriculum integration, and supportive school policy. The AWG also drafted a bill to create a sustained Outdoor Education Council, create a Outdoor School Designation program, and an award for exceptional outdoor educators. The bill passed with bipartisan support in 2025, along with additional bills for funding school gardens, funding youth outdoor recreation and education, and opportunity for students to receive school credit for outdoor recreation.

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Providence, RI: 1 park away from being at 100% of residents being 10 min walk from a park

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Providence, RI: 1 park away from being at 100% of residents being 10 min walk from a park

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Providence is also at 97% of all its parks including some element of nature play or natural elements. The Park Superintendent has vision and commitment to ensuring that parks are by design inclusive of natural elements and/or nature access.

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Lower Columbia Nature Network partners plant more trees through the Portland-Vancouver Canopy Collective and kick off year 4 of the Take learning Outside PD

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Lower Columbia Nature Network partners plant more trees through the Portland-Vancouver Canopy Collective and kick off year 4 of the Take learning Outside PD

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Our southwest Washington schools are increasing use of outdoor learning and school gardens. We are also seeing a lot of tree planting efforts near playgrounds and outdoor learning areas. We are also kicking off year 4 of our school year long teacher trainings. We host 6-9 sessions for teachers to earn up to 15 STEM clock hours. Our community partners help lead these trainings.

Collaboration and coordination of resources is what lifts up this work and makes it easier to get more projects in the ground.

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Educator Resources — Lower Columbia Nature Network

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Recess policy can outdoor unstructured time improve child wellbeing (Little Rock) 

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Recess policy can outdoor unstructured time improve child wellbeing (Little Rock) 

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Children don't get their full recess, sometimes it's revoked as punishment. We're pushing on good recess policy so kids have unstructured time outside. Our governor is really focused on outdoor learning.

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Green Schoolyards in Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Green Schoolyards in Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Grand Rapids showcases nature-focused learning to national experts

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Mayor Lurie Breaks Ground on Nature Inspired Playground in the Tenderloin

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Mayor Lurie Breaks Ground on Nature Inspired Playground in the Tenderloin

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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie joined neighborhood families and partners this month to break ground on a newly redesigned playground at the Tenderloin Recreation Center.

For the first time in more than 30 years, this beloved community playground is being reimagined for exploration, play, and connection with nature. The new design will feature logs, stumps, and other nature-based play elements that spark creativity and adventure, along with the addition of 16 new trees and over 1,000 square feet of lush new plantings to bring more shade, greenery, and life to the site. Construction is expected to wrap up by summer 2026.

This project is made possible through the partnership of KABOOM!, the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, Crankstart, Cal Fire, Wu Yee Children’s Services, SF Children & Nature, the Low Income Investment Fund, the Department of Early Childhood, and Head Start California.

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Nailed It! High Schoolers Build for Nature Play  

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Nailed It! High Schoolers Build for Nature Play  

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This summer, students from John O’Connell Technical High School’s construction class rolled up their sleeves and built 12 beautiful mud kitchens for early childhood programs across San Francisco. Along the way, the high schoolers picked up real-world skills in construction, teamwork, and math—while helping to bring joy and discovery to little learners across the city. Learn more >

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Ballou Park Reforestation Project (Our First Tree Planting Event!) 

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Danville Outdoors is a community-based initiative created to bring together all aspects of outdoor recreation and conservation. Recently, our team earned a statewide recognition through the Virginia Municipal League (VML) for all the efforts made over the past few years.

Our team has received the Award for Innovation in Health and Wellness. This statewide award recognizes excellence in collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving to help better the community across the state in local government. We also received the honor of being presented with the President’s Award for excellence in partnership and collaboration.

This initiative is powered by amazing partners, including Danville Parks and Recreation, Danville Public Works, Dan River Basin Association, Danville Science Center, Danville Public Schools, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Master Naturalist Program, the Danville Master Gardeners, The Garden Club of Danville, The Gabriella Garden Club, Schoolfield Nature Club, and the Box Turtle Sanctuary of Virginia.

Our partners also serve on several other committees and continue to offer their programs and services to help better our city! Below are a few projects and programs that we have and continue to work on as a group.

A few of our projects and programs:

- Ballou Park Reforestation Project

- Ladybug Release Events

- Creating hands-on environmental programs for the Schoolfield Elementary afterschool Nature Club and their new Nature Class. The Nature Class occurs during school hours and focuses on SOL curriculum with hands-on nature experiences.

- Creating hands-on environmental programs for youth in the Danville Redevelopment Housing Authority.

We are so proud and happy to be a Nature Everywhere Community!!

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Connecting children to nature in the Sonoran Desert has unique points to consider.

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Pima County Connecting Children to Nature- Celebrations

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Pima County Connecting Children to Nature- Celebrations

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Children’s Equity Nature Index was created and is being used to make decisions about where to direct resources.

We held several community convenings- sharing data, asking for input on priorities, increasing engagement

Launched a multi-step community engagement process to inform COBOR, have language now about the “rights”, which is with the AZ Youth Climate Coalition for their input and final revisions. Presenting to City Commissions and planning for similar presentations to County Departments.

Proposed plan presented to Pima County department director for a nature inspired outdoor area at the NW Service Center, if completed, would create a space for families with children who are seeking benefits and programs through Pima County to explore nature.

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Groton's Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

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Groton's Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

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Our Town's Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

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The GO Groton Collaborative includes members from Groton Public Schools, The Town of Groton Planning and Development Department, Parks and Rec, and the Groton Open Space Association worked together to create an Outdoor Children's Bill of Rights which was endorsed by our Town Council over the summer. Our approach included numerous community outreach events and the hiring of a youth and outreach coordinator that was able to get input and feedback from many different parts of the community.

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Groton creates Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

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Pima County Connecting Children to Nature- Participatory Design with Youth

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Pima County Connecting Children to Nature- Participatory Design with Youth

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We are celebrating the growth of our coalition partners and how new networks, connections and relationships led to engaging youth in a participatory design process to inform the design of a city park with nature elements. Our Steering Committee now includes a youth member from the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition.

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Madison region: 2025 progress and projects

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Madison region: 2025 progress and projects

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Nature Everywhere Day Celebrations

Nature-Based Field Trip Guide

Library Programs

Educator Grants

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Memory lane, part II

Public Health of Madison and Dane County and the city of Madison's Parks Division collaborated with Wanda Fullmore interns to explore how spending time in nature can provide valuable leadership experiences and is a space for improving peace and mental health. Nature is nearby. Nature activities can bring people together and strengthen community, in a common space. Time in nature can improve well being, especially in young children. Youth can inform and lead efforts to connect children and families to nature. Everyone deserves the chance to spend time in nature.

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A trip down memory lane!

The City of Madison, Wisconsin is one of seven cities across the US participating in an initiative to provide all children with opportunities to spend time in nature. Recognizing the power and potential of youth to shape the future of place and policies within our cities, Madison’s approach incorporated youth leadership and voice in the city-wide planning process. Lessons will be used to engage youth in other city planning processes, helping to forge more community-driven planning for our Parks and Open Space and Comprehensive Plans.

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Madison Connecting Children and Families to Nature

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On April 28, 2025, the city of Cleveland adopted the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBOR).

Cleveland's COBOR outlines twelve fundamental nature experiences every child deserves, from breathing clean air to walking tree-lined streets. Over the last several months, Renee Boronka from Western Reserve Land Conservancy worked closely with Cleveland Metropolitan School District Teacher Mary Kennedy-Brown, and her class of AP Environmental Science Students from John Marshall High School, to analyze data and compose the COBOR, which will serve as practical framework for future environmental planning and nature-based programming.

On Earth Day, the twelve AP Environmental Science students and their teacher presented the COBOR to Cleveland City Council's Committee on Workforce Education Training and Youth Development. The young scholars did an amazing job advocating for the youth of Cleveland and the passing of the resolution shows Cleveland’s commitment to helping children enjoy the benefits of time spent in nature.

Cleveland City Council Resolution 436-2025. Adopted 4/28/25

We adopt this Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights in which all children in Cleveland have the right to:

1. Breath fresh and clean air.

2. Recreate safely on the beaches and in the waters of Lake Erie.

3. Play in clean parks, greenspaces, rivers, and streams.

4. Bike on safe trails in parks that connect community.

5. Hike and explore safely in nature.

6. Walk along tree-lined streets in their neighborhood.

7. Play in the snow, build a snowman, ride a sled, throw a snowball.

8. Dig in soil, plant and nurture a seed, watch it grow.

9. Engage and connect with their community at events in parks and greenspaces.

10. Bond with family and friends over an outdoor meal.

11. Watch the stars shine bright during a peaceful night of camping.

12. Learn in nature, building confidence to be stewards of our natural world.

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Austin ISD Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Center Opening Celebration 9/26/25

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Austin ISD Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Center Opening Celebration 9/26/25

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Austin ISD created a new Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Center for district wide field trips and public use. The OWL Center focuses on nature play with features such as a play creek (with running water!), Bienenstock play structures, fort building space, a giant nest, log and boulder runs, an outdoor classroom/stage, 30+ new trees, custom artwork, and native wildflower meadows. All spaces and plantings were chosen with intention toward sensory benefits and universal design considerations.

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Opening celebration on 9/27/25 of Austin's newest nature play space at Heritage Oaks Neighborhood Park! Accessibility was top of mind for this site as one of the youngest neighbors has cerebral palsy. We're thrilled with how it came out and can't want for her to continue to explore this park.

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Dearborn Green Schoolyards built the Kindergarten Nature Playscape in 2025. Two more areas will be built the fall of 2025. A big year!

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Celebrating 7 New Natural Play Spaces in Early Childhood

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Celebrating 7 New Natural Play Spaces in Early Childhood

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San Francisco Children & Nature recently celebrated a big milestone — seven new early childhood play spaces and a ribbon-cutting with the Mayor. That brings the total to 30 renovated sites since 2021, transforming outdoor areas into vibrant, nature-filled spaces for young children. These projects were made possible through collaborations inspired by the Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative led by LIIF with support from DEC, SF Rec & Park, the Presidio Trust, and community partners. Learn more >

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We Did It! Celebrating 7 New Nature-Rich Play Spaces for Early Childhood » SF Children & Nature

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More than 200 young children at seven San Francisco childcare centers and family childcare homes are enjoying newly renovated green outdoor play spaces that inspire learning, movement, and imaginative play.

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Welcome!  Please share images and messages to celebrate highlights from your community

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Welcome!  Please share images and messages to celebrate highlights from your community

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Add a caption to your photo to tell us more

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Librarians from across the state of Texas meeting at the Windsor Park Branch of Austin Public Libraries

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This was an incredible convening that happened in Austin on September 11-12th where many attendees walked away inspired and with next steps! We couldn't have done this without Texas Children in Nature Network, C&NN, and NLC.