Nature Everywhere initiative will advance community visions for a nature-filled future

In mid-November, leaders from 19 U.S. communities gathered to share their goals and visions for connecting children and families to the benefits of nature during “vision labs” held in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. These hands-on peer learning events marked the launch of a new, Nature Everywhere Communities initiative designed to increase equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play in 100 communities by 2025. 

Nature Everywhere Communities is a joint initiative of the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities and KABOOM!, three organizations with a successful track record of working together to improve the health and well-being of children. 

“We’ve been fortunate to partner with the National League of Cities and KABOOM! over the past several years to connect children to nature-based experiences and learning opportunities,” says Sarah Milligan-Toffler, president and CEO of the Children & Nature Network. “As partners, we know that spending time outdoors, in nature, is essential for children’s healthy development. We also know that there are longstanding systems in place that create disparities in the design, distribution and programming of green spaces and natural areas. We are excited to support Nature Everywhere Communities in dismantling these systems of inequity so that all children can thrive.”

Dozens of communities from across the U.S. applied to join Nature Everywhere through a competitive application process that required them to form cross-sector leadership teams and share goals for increasing equitable access to nature. The following community teams were chosen for the inaugural cohort: 

• Kingston Nature Access and Connection Team, Kingston, New York
• Lowell, Massachusetts
• Get Outdoors Partnership, Groton, Connecticut
• East End, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Prescribe Outside, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Tri-County Play Collaborative, Tri-County, South Carolina
• Thrive Outside Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
• Thrive Outside Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
• Riverfront Nature Network, Memphis, Tennessee
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Nkwejong/Lansing, Lansing, Michigan
• Madison Region, Wisconsin
• Faribault Region, Minnesota
• Arkansas Valley Visioning Cohort, Rocky Ford, Colorado
• Longmont Nature Network, Longmont, Colorado
• Connecting Children to Nature, Pima County, Arizona
• Nevada Outdoor Education Advisory Working Group, Nevada
• Youth Access to Nature, Sonoma County, California

“Over the past nine years, we’ve provided technical assistance, training, resources and grants to expand equitable access to nature for youth in more than 50 cities through the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative,” said Clarence Anthony, CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities. “The majority of children live in urban areas, so the policies and programs that city governments implement play a critically important role in getting kids connected to green spaces and outdoor experiences. Through the Nature Everywhere initiative, we are so excited to welcome a new cohort of leaders from across sectors in nineteen communities in advancing this effort.”

Following the Nature Everywhere Vision Labs, community teams will receive two years of strategic planning and technical support, including access to a national peer learning network; case-making research; resources, case studies and planning tools; seed grants of up to $50,000; and eventually, access to larger catalytic grants for implementation. Nature Everywhere partners (Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities, and KABOOM!) will also help communities track outcomes and communicate the impact of their work both locally and nationally.  

“Our future depends on healthy children and a healthy environment,” says Lysa Ratliff, president and CEO of KABOOM!. “Achieving playspace equity through nature-based play improves kids’ physical and mental health and supports them in becoming stewards of the environment for future generations. We are thrilled to partner with Nature Everywhere to support communities in achieving their visions for equitable access to nature-based learning and play.”

The Nature Everywhere initiative is made possible with major support from The JPB Foundation and additional funding from the Pisces Foundation and the REI Cooperative Action Fund.

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