Move Forward
42 Resources
This toolkit highlights innovative, Nature-Smart Library initiatives nationwide, showcasing how libraries can collaborate with cities, parks, and community partners to expand nature access. While many libraries lead individual efforts, this toolkit emphasizes system-wide strategies to ensure nature is accessible across entire communities.
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.
As community hubs, libraries are the ideal partners to provide children with regular access to nature. This infographic provides a helpful visual of how libraries can help connect children to nature. Use this to help build understanding of Nature-Smart Libraries.
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.
Equity maps depict how nature appears in a city relative to key demographic, economic, and social data. Cities use equity maps to prioritize programming, funding and resources to areas most in need. This resource guide provides step-by-step process for creating equity maps.
The Green Schoolyards District Design Guidelines is a product of over a year-long collaboration with a group of cross-sector leaders working towards systemic change in the way we think about and use the outdoor spaces surrounding a school. This publication is intended to support and inspire school district staff in creating their own school design guidelines – tailored to meet the needs of your region and community and endorsed by your district. Our goal is that your school district creates procedures that meet the needs of your students and staff, align with your district priorities, and benefit members of all ages in your community. The content of this publication was written with input from experts in the field, including academics, professional landscape designers, and district-level staff from across the country.
Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN), through conversations with agency partners, created this online resource that outlines a set of “best fit” federal programs, from major federal agencies, that cities can leverage for their children-to-nature activities via direct application or through partnerships.
The tools and resources compiled help cities and partners achieve these goals with a particular focus on equity so all children regardless of race or income have access to nature’s benefits.
A 4-year-old boy pounds a branch on a round slice of tree trunk, known as a “tree cookie.” Realizing he can make music, he smiles and begins to pound in rhythm. Across the yard, another group of preschoolers follow a teacher along a log on the ground. The kids hold their arms wide, balancing and following directions. Ahead of them are children who are jumping from rock to rock, squealing as one kid yells, “Ground is lava!”
Bring nature’s benefits to young children, ages 0 - 5, in your city and support other city priorities, such as school readiness, health and wellness, and equity in child development.
“Worm. Rabbit. Fox.” A ball of string is tossed around. “Tree. Squirrel. Owl.” On and on it goes, as 5th graders name animals or plants in a habitat and toss the string. The ball of string keeps traveling until every child is linked in an entangled web. Years ago when I was an outdoor educator, I led this activity weekly. I would announce that the fox had a good hunting day, which was unfortunate for the rabbit.
In the summer of 2020, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, nature centers were authorized to begin slowly opening their trails. Those of us in the education department at Beaver Brook knew we needed to provide opportunities for families to safely get out into nature. Families were being particularly hard-hit by pandemic-related changes; we knew that nature could provide numerous mental, social, physical and family-bonding benefits
In addition to its proximity to Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York, is best known for its epic snow storms. These storms drop as much as eight feet of snow at a time, sometimes requiring the National Guard to help the city dig out its streets.
This strategy tool describes what a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights is, what the key benefits are, and how cities can create one for their community. It also links to best practices from other cities.
The city of Austin, Texas publicly declared its belief that all children — regardless of race or income level — deserve access to nature’s benefits when the city council passed the Austin Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. And, thanks to the leadership in Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department and strong partnerships across the city, the community is taking steps to bring this commitment to life by making regular nature access a reality for young children in Austin.
Many cities are searching for ways to bring nature’s benefits to all children, but longstanding conditions, such as policies, power dynamics and perceptions, can make change difficult. Achieving real and lasting change requires a community-based approach to dismantling systems of inequity, or in other words, a systems change approach.
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.
This toolkit shares lessons learned from California schools with successful joint use agreements, offering guidelines and templates for other communities seeking to increase access to school recreational facilities.
A collection of inspiring images and guidance for creating nature play spaces.
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss from Grand Rapids, MI gave a welcome address where she shares her personal story of how nature impacted her and her path towards incorporating equitable access to nature into her city priorities.
This webinar discusses the essential role of green schoolyards in a post-COVID area. With play structures being closed due to COVID-19, the public access of green schoolyards is even more critical.
This video from the Cities Connecting Children to Nature Initiative provides an overview of how cities can incorporate nature play spaces.
The toolkit from Austin Public Schools and the Austin Area School Garden Collaborative connects educators with relevant research, project examples, how-to information, and local resources.
Omaha Public School’s guide for reducing storm water on school grounds, including lesson plans for teachers and maintenance resources for administrators
This guide offers five key strategies for reducing urban heat islands, including strategic vegetation and building practices.
New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection leads multiple agency partners in the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable green infrastructure on schoolyards and other spaces.
This report outlines these challenges and highlights examples of partnerships and projects that have had success in addressing them.
In this webinar, The Corps Network and Louisville Parks and Recreation share ways that cities and corps employ youth in service, facilitation of local nature experiences, and as role models and nature advocates.
In this webinar, city case studies illustrate ways cities can maximize library assets, partnerships, and resources to bring the benefits of nature to local residents.
This tool explores how libraries as nature connectors provide materials, programming, and leadership opportunities for youth to connect with nature in their neighborhoods.
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.
This tool explores how service and conservation corps partnerships engage young people in outdoor, hands-on service while also accomplishing projects for cities.
The Nature Connection in Early Childhood Sites tool describes best practices in creating outdoor learning environments and supporting nature preschools to connect young children to nature in their daily life.
The Youth Leadership Development tool describes best practices in developing youth voice, connection to nature, and engagement in city planning processes.
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.
Insights from the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative guiding city leaders on strategies for equitable access to nature for children.
A webinar exploring the potential of youth engagement, leadership and stewardship activities to foster nature connection in cities.
Eight actions for leaders to take to ensure that children in cities have access to play in nature.
Data to help state decision makers incentivize and promote shared used agreements in schools to grow healthier kids and communities.
This guidebook outlines benefits, planning process and types of green storm water infrastructure on school grounds.
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