Case Studies

Austin Public Library (APL) is transforming library spaces into hubs for nature exploration through its Nature-Smart Library initiative. APL is embedding environmental education, outdoor learning, and green space improvements into its library services to address nature access disparities. Read this case study to learn more about Austin’s approach.

Not all communities in San Francisco have equal access to nature. To bridge this gap, San Francisco Children & Nature launched its Nature-Smart Library strategy to “bring the outside in” to libraries through programming and physical space transformation and to encourage patrons to get outside. Read the case study to learn more about San Francisco’s approach.

In Pharr, Texas, a small, predominantly Hispanic/Latino community, extreme heat, finances, and accessibility challenges limit outdoor play for children. With 35% of the population under 18, the local library saw an opportunity to engage families by focusing on children’s programming and offering nature connections. Read this case study to learn more about Parr’s approach.

Anthill Creations is a not-for-profit based in Bangalore, India, committed to making play accessible to all children by using industrial waste to build safe, sustainable playscapes. This case study from India is part of the Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

The Institute for Nature Education and Sustainability (IVN) is an organization in the Netherlands that supports greening school grounds that are community-centered, multifunctional and government-led. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Based in Perú, the Asociación para la Niñez y su Ambiente (ANIA) develops Tierra de Niños (TiNis), or Children’s Lands, as a way of greening school grounds that are replicable, child-led, sustainable and educational. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Through an ethnobotanical garden at Dar Taliba Ourika girls’ boarding house in Morocco, the Global Diversity Foundation supports greening school grounds with an emphasis on ancestral knowledge, sustainable practices, and diversity and inclusion. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Les Cours OASIS is a program of the city of Paris that supports greening school grounds with an emphasis on climate resilience, policy and community. This case study from France is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

The Climate Ready Schools program at Canadian nonprofit organization Evergreen supports greening school grounds that are climate adaptive, child-centered, scalable and partnership-focused. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Chilean nonprofit organization Fundación Patio Vivo supports greening school grounds that support different types of play and prioritizes equity and diversity by focusing their work where children are in most need of playing and learning opportunities in contact with nature. This case study is part of the Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Through their program Lessons in Grass, Czech-based organization TEREZA supports greening school grounds that are place-based, research-minded, engaging and simple. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Green Cameroon is a non-governmental organization that works with children and youth to develop deep connections to nature and aid in the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity. This case study from Cameroon is part of the Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

The Município de Jundiaí in Brazil is one of the first entities in the country to adopt a series of recommendations on greening school ground and getting children outside through the Desemparedamento da Infância (“unwalled childhoods'') project. This case study from Brazil is part of the Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

Brazilian Movimento dos Quintais Brincantes, or “Playful Backyard Movement” supports connecting children with nature to improve health and environmental outcomes. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

The City of Antwerp supports greening school grounds practices that enhance playing and learning opportunities for children and engage the broader community in the design process. This case study from Belgium is part of the Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

UK-based nonprofit Learning through Landscapes (LtL) supports greening school grounds with an emphasis on education, policy, inclusion and diversity. This case study is part of the Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project, a joint initiative.

This resource helps engage cities within a region or state to work collaboratively at the state level to expand access to high-quality green spaces and increase policies and programs that support children and nature connections.

This resource outlines how to develop partnerships between city government and a group of community organizations in order to maximize resources and achieve shared goals to advance children and nature connections.

This case study summarizes research findings about the positive outcomes of outdoor learning and shares schoolyard-learning tips and essentials for educators.

An example of how non-traditional partnerships grow green schoolyards in Chicago.

This collaboration between Clean Water Partnership (CWP) and Prince George’s County Public Schools helps meet federal stormwater standards and fosters new generations of water quality protectors.

Space to Grow Chicago has a unique partnership, community engagement and stewardship model for green schoolyards.

An example of how Arkansas tobacco excise tax helps fund shared use programs that benefit health and education.

Baltimore City Public Schools has a robust and comprehensive approach to its green schools initiative that supports the health and well-being of students, families and the community.

This case study narrates the evolution of green schoolyards in San Francisco, and their supporting programming including Americorps-funded educators at many schools.

William Cramp Community School (K-5) serves as a prototype for greening schoolyards in Philadelphia.

Get2Green supports county-wide efforts to engage Pre-K-12 students in environmental stewardship, incorporate sustainability in the classroom, schoolyard greening throughout the district.

A rural green schoolyards program, Learning Landscapes takes advantage of preserved adjacent property and develops school grounds with trails, outdoor classroom areas and native plantings

Out Teach provides professional development, mentoring and modeling for schools with outdoor classrooms. Their program is highly successful and improves teacher and student motivation.

This case study highlights the program and funding that has allowed all schools in Santa Cruz, CA to have garden-based education as part of its district learning goals.

Over the past 30 years, SPARK has built more than 200 community parks in 17 school districts in Harris County, Texas, including neighborhoods where no parks existed.

This case study chronicles the collaborative process of choosing a school and the types of green infrastructure to implement on a schoolyard, outlining a planning and implementation process.

Case studies of green schoolyards as public places with the potential to improve public health for individuals and the community as a whole.

Case studies from six cities distill important factors for success, including partnerships, funding, policies and documented impact that wins support.

Report highlights community and school gardens in Chicago reduced stormwater runoff, resulting in better water quality, reduced urban heat islands, enhanced learning environments and stronger communities.

Voter-approved city bond funding pays for schoolyard transformation program in Denver, CO.

This Wisconsin law provides liability protection for schools that permit community recreational use of school property during non-school hours as a strategy for increasing physical activity.

Analysis of an agreement that permits community recreational use of school property.