Reports / Papers

At the end of 2024, the Children & Nature Network Founders’ Council published a report identifying the key issues that affect how children and youth meaningfully connect with nature in their everyday lives. Grounded in both scientific research and less formal ways of knowing, these observations help inform the ongoing contributions of the Children & Nature Network.

This brief summarizes key elements of “A Field Scan of Older Adults and Nature in Minnesota.” It also shares information about how the Field Scan project is raising awareness of this topic, supporting organizations doing this work, and expanding opportunities for people 55+ in nature across Minnesota. It includes the importance of intergenerational connections and makes suggestions about actions readers can take to promote fuller access to nature.\

This report, authored by former Federal Reserve economist Rob Grunewald, investigates the economic returns that can accompany investments in greening school grounds. Grunewald based much of his report on data from a study of a large-scale green schoolyard project in Denver, Colorado, that converted 99 traditional elementary schoolyards to green schoolyards over a 12-year period.

This report highlights the benefits of nature-based activities for individuals 55+ and provides a framework for enhancing their access and participation in nature. Written from the perspective of work happening in Minnesota with applications far beyond, this 100-page document has links to many resources and models and is intended for anyone interested in learning how better to support and grow accessto nature for people 55+. It includes information about intergenerational work to connect children and older adults in nature.

This paper reviews research on the relationship between a young person’s nature experiences and subsequent pro-environmental behavior as an adult. A literature search of an academic database is supplemented by discussions with experts in the field.

This resource aims to support a visioning is a process through which community partners develop a vision statement that sets the course for the local children and nature initiative. Through public engagement, the community defines its purpose, core values, and ambitions for the future.

At the end of 2023, the Children & Nature Network Founders’ Council – a cross-sector group of experts that includes the organization’s co-founders – finalized a report highlighting some of the most compelling challenges and opportunities facing the children and nature movement today.

Since 2014, more than 50 cities across the United States have chosen to prioritize youth nature connection by participating in the Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative, a joint national partnership between the National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network. Nine years later, CCCN partnered with the independent research firms Education Northwest and The Sustainable Learning Projects to explore and quantify the initiative’s successes in a summative report. Published in October of 2023, the report highlights the activities that best supported cities in their efforts to connect children to nature.

Learn about the impact of key Children & Nature Network initiatives in 2022.

The Greening School Ground & Outdoor Learning Global Action Agenda was written by Salzburg Global Fellows to support the work that ensures that all children and communities have access to green school grounds and outdoor learning.

Throughout 2021, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges, but it also led to increased interest in the power of nature to restore and heal. We were honored to work with partners, longstanding and new, to build on this momentum. Our 2021 Annual Report highlights the new ways we supported the incredible work of children and nature advocates around the world whose creativity, resiliency and dedication inspires us as a global force for change.

Towns and cities have an opportunity to reprioritize resources to foster children’s connection to nature while meeting sustainability and resilience goals. Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN), a joint initiative of National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network, teamed with the Regional Plan Association (RPA) to demonstrate potential synergy in policies and practices in order to bridge these complementary field.

Los participantes del proyecto virtual Lecciones Globales Sobre Patios Escolares Verdes y Aprendizaje al Aire Libre desarrollaron esta declaración para influir en el pensamiento, políticas y estrategias para espacios escolares naturalizados y oportunidades de aprendizaje al aire libre.

Τα μέλη που συμμετέχουν στο διαδικτυακό πρόγραμμα Global Lessons on Greening Schools Grounds and Outdoor Learning ανέπτυξαν αυτήν τη δήλωση υπεράσπισης για να επηρεάσουν τον τρόπο σκέψης, τις πολιτικές, και τις προσεγγίσεις σχεδιασμού των σχολικών αυλών καθώς και να προωθήσουν την ανάπτυξη δυνατοτήτων για υπαίθρια μάθηση. Αυτό θα υποστηρίξει μια παγκόσμια ατζέντα δράσης που έχει σχεδιαστεί για να διασφαλίσει ότι όλα τα παιδιά και οι κοινότητες έχουν πρόσβαση σε πράσινες σχολικές αυλές και υπαίθρια μάθηση.

Os participantes do programa on-line Lições Globais sobre Espaços Escolares Naturalizados e Educação ao Ar Livre desenvolveram esta declaração com o objetivo de influenciar o pensamento, as políticas e as abordagens relacionadas aos espaços escolares e à educação ao ar livre. O documento apoiará uma agenda de ação global destinada a garantir que todas as crianças e comunidades tenham acesso a espaços escolares naturalizados e ao aprendizado ao ar livre.

Les participants au programme «Enseignements universels sur la végétalisation des cours d’écoles et l’apprentissage dehors» ont élaboré ce plaidoyer pour influencer la réflexion, les politiques et les projets concernant les cours d’école et les opportunités d’apprentissage en extérieur. Cela soutiendra un programme d’action mondial imaginé pour promouvoir l’accès de tous les enfants et toutes les communautés à des cours d’école plus vertes et des expériences d’apprentissage dehors.

Medskapare som deltagit i den digitala seminarieserien Global Lessons on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning har utvecklat Salzburgförklaringen för att påverka synsätt, politik och tillvägagångssätt för skolgårdar och möjligheter till lärande utomhus. Denna kommer vara ett stöd till en global handlingsplan som ser till att alla barn och samhällen får tillgång till gröna skolgårdar och lärande utomhus.

साल्ज़बर्ग ग्लोबल फेलो द्वारा तैयार किया गया यह वक्तव्य, यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए एक वैश्विक कार्रवाई एजेंडा का समर्थन करेगा कि सभी बच्चों और समुदायों की हरित स्कूल के मैदान और बाहरी शिक्षा तक पहुंच हो।

參與了 「綠化校園及戶外學習之全
球經驗」項目的薩爾茨堡全球研討會
會員,編寫了本聲明,籍此促進對校
園和戶外學習的思考、政策和方法

参与了 「绿化校园及户外学习之全
球经验」项目的萨尔茨堡全球研讨会
会员,编写了本声明,籍此促进对校
园和户外学习的思考、政策和方法。

Salzburg Global Fellows에 의해 작성된 본 성명서는, 모든어린이와 지역사회가 학교 운동장 내녹지공간과야외학습에 대한 권리를 보장받을수 있도록전

The Salzburg Statement for Greening School Grounds & outdoor Learning was drafted by Salzburg Global Fellows, with the aim to support a global action agenda to ensure that all children and communities have access to green school grounds and outdoor learning.

This report gives an overview of the first ten years of early childhood nature programs at Antioch University. It is written by C&NN’s co-founder and President and CEO Emerita Cheryl Charles.

Evaluation of Anitoch University New England’s nature-based early childhood education initiative that includes graduate courses, a certificate program, conferences, consultations, and a professional
network.

This report details the programming and outcomes of the 2020 Inside-Out Leadership Summit, C&NN’s convening of children and nature movement leaders, including report outs from six strategic action areas: cities, green schoolyards, international action, policy, youth development, and health and well-being.

This focused literature review explores studies of programs at the intersection of youth development and nature. This literature review is intended for programs that focus on nature and/or youth development so they can explore “what works” to support young people’s growth and to consider what might be useful to enhance programs and practices to allow youth to reach their fullest potential.

Equity serves as a central goal of the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative (CCCN). In this new equity resource, CCCN provides a snapshot into the current consensus within CCCN on definitions and principles for advancing equity, as well as a few illustrative examples of city progress and additional ideas.

The Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative increased its focus on systems-level change and adopted a systems change framework. This brief discussion paper describes examples of structural change observed from 2015 to 2020 with CCCN cities. The paper was used to lead internal discussions among CCCN cities at a gathering in 2020.

The Nature-Based Learning Collaborative Research Network (NBLR Network) presents a framework for research to advance the understanding and implementation of nature-based learning

This report outlines these challenges and highlights examples of partnerships and projects that have had success in addressing them.

Our role in advancing the evidence base and mobilizing the children and nature movement has never felt more relevant. By building the capacity of leaders and communities through cross-sector convenings, research, training, peer learning, technical assistance, grants and the development of practical tools and resources, we are fueling social change. And with the support of our 600 incredible members and our many valued partners, we will continue to build a world in which all children learn, play and grow with nature in their everyday lives.

Wintermission Leadville is led locally by the City of Leadville, Get Outdoors Leadville!, and Lake County Recreation Department, with key support from many local partner organizations and community members.

Converging evidence from diverse fields offers causal support for nature’s impact on learning, development and environmental stewardship.

This report makes the case for including schools in federal infrastructure funding to close the education equity gap in the U.S.

2017 was an exciting year for the Children & Nature Network. We were thrilled to celebrate progress and share ideas with nearly 900 leaders at our international conference — and work with city officials, families, young leaders, educators, health professionals, researchers, grassroots organizers and practitioners to connect more children to the proven benefits of nature.

Promising practices for water management that promotes equity for communities most impacted by economic stress caused by climate change.

List of 55 priority actions including proposals for policy and practice reforms at the local, state, and federal levels, to help systematically scale green schoolyards.

A look at how health equity can a local lever for green schoolyard program development.

Muddy Hands presents the evidence for outdoor learning and play. It draws on data from the Outdoor Classroom Day 2017 survey, as well as findings from a wide range of literature that highlights the benefits, barriers and solutions to getting children outdoors. Features a foreword from C&NN co-founder, Richard Louv.

Data to help state decision makers incentivize and promote shared used agreements in schools to grow healthier kids and communities.

We are pleased to share highlights from 2016, our tenth anniversary year. We are grateful to the partners, funders and donors who support our work and believe as we do that nature has the power to make kids healthier, happier and smarter — and inspire new generations of stewards for our planet.

This report focuses on the potential benefits and unintended consequences of state policies specifically focused on Out-of-School-Time (OST) programs.

This summary of the Natural Connections project in England, which followed students and teachers in 125 schools over four years, provides a compelling case and proven strategies for outdoor learning.

Examples of how Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) can reduce violence on school campuses.

In this report, TreePeople focuses on a LA Unified School District Water Partnership project, examining collaborative options that could allow for increased stormwater capture projects on LAUSD campuses.

Thriving Through Nature explains why the development of executive function skills is important and how experiences in nature can play a critical and positive role in this process. It offers examples of ways to foster executive function throughout childhood developmental phases.

This report makes the case that green schoolyards can be part of a whole-school sustainability framework that aligns individuals and departments to maximize the school’s teaching capacity.

A call to action from leaders in the field to place the nature-health connection at the center of research, design, and decision-making.

This report describes Y-PLAN methodology, which builds the capacity of young people to contribute their own data and insights to the planning and policymaking process.

This report discusses why spending time in nature with your children may be an ideal way to nurture family bonds.

This report discusses why spending time in nature with your children may be an ideal way to nurture family bonds.

This report discusses why spending time in nature with your children may be an ideal way to nurture family bonds.

Issue brief about how green schoolyards can maximize social, economic and ecological benefits in America’s capitol.

This report on the movement to reconnect children and nature has been developed
to serve as a tool for those who care deeply about the importance of reconnecting
children with nature.