States advance children and nature policies during 2023 legislative sessions

A flurry of activity in state legislatures across the U.S. has resulted in a variety of policies and funding that enhance, promote and encourage opportunities to connect children and youth to nature in their schools, communities and regions. 

Representative Leslie Herod (D), Colorado General Assembly

“The connection between learning, mental health and nature is clear. I am heartened to see state legislatures, including Colorado, take steps to pass public policy that connects more students with the outdoors and environmental education in their own communities and beyond,” says Colorado Representative Leslie Herod.

The latest advancements in youth outdoor policies are documented in a 2023 Trends Report published by the Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook. This virtual tool highlights successful bipartisan policy initiatives and provides resources to support statewide efforts to build healthy communities by increasing kids’ access to regular, positive outdoor experiences through environmental education and youth engagement. The Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook is produced by the Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership, which includes the Children & Nature Network, the North American Association for Environmental Education, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and Nuestra Tierra.

 For 2023, there was movement on many issue fronts, including:

• Colorado’s House Bill 1296 created a task force to study disability inclusion with a focus on outdoor equity.
• Louisiana’s Senate Resolution 84 created a task force to improve childhood health. State experts identified links between low state-wide childhood wellness and a lack of access to the outdoors, healthy foods and safe physical activity, especially in summers and close to home.
• Maryland’s  House Bill 525 established a pilot program to license outdoor preschools.
• Oregon’s House Bill 2717 allows outdoor childcare facilities (e.g. daycares) to be licensed and will set guidelines for safe outdoor childcare. 
• Utah’s House Bill 224 enacts an initiative which dedicates funding to strategically improve and expand outdoor recreation statewide.
• Wyoming’s House Bill 48 would have established an active transportation and recreation grant program to increase wellness with more connectivity for cycling, walking and riding.  

To help amplify this work, we need you! If you, your organization or your collaborative effort has stories, anecdotes or pictures you would be willing to share to amplify the need for increased outdoor learning and engagement, we would love to see them. Storytelling is a key part of educating policymakers and public agencies on the importance of nature-based programming and access for America’s children and youth.  

To submit a story or photo, or for more information on the 2023 Trends Report or the Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook online tool, please reach out to David Beard, Children & Nature Network’s Director of Policy & Government Affairs. He can be reached at david@childrenandnature.org. 

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