Youth
9 Resources
This Digest focuses on factors limiting children’s engagement with nature, some residing in the child and/or family; some associated with urban parks and public greenspaces; some specific to schools.
Teen climate activist Greta Thunburg has become a household name, and for good reason. But she’s not the only young person lifting her voice to demand meaningful change. Around the world, young leaders are fighting to protect the wild places we love--and the future of our planet.
The Children & Nature Network and the National Recreation Foundation invite youth-serving organizations to participate in a Youth Development & Nature Cohort to build community capacity for integrating nature and youth development.
C&NN strives to support and increase the leadership and diversity of young people benefiting from and contributing to meaningful connections to nature, outdoor activities, and outdoor-related careers. As part of this effort, we identify and implement strategies for engaging youth and their perspectives in the planning and facilitation of events. This event guide will help you do the same.
The primary goal of this guide is to help you center Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as fundamental values of event planning so that all feel welcome, valued and inspired.
We partnered with the Outdoor Foundation, Search Institute, and Fresh Tracks to better understand the intersection of youth development and nature-based programming. This work, made possible with funding from the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, resulted in the development of tools and resources that unite youth development and nature-based programs around a common goal of helping youth reach their full potential as people--and as nature advocates.
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.
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.
13 Resources
Young adult leaders are bringing fresh voices and new ideas to the Children & Nature Network’s Inside-Out International Conference through...
The Children & Nature Network invites young leaders in the U.S., Mexico and Canada between the ages of 16 and 30 to request up to $500 to grow professionally as a leader in the movement or to implement projects that create change in equitable access to nature, community health and well being, and justice.
Teen climate activist Greta Thunburg has become a household name, and for good reason. But she’s not the only young person lifting her voice to demand meaningful change. Around the world, young leaders are fighting to protect the wild places we love--and the future of our planet.
The Children & Nature Network and the National Recreation Foundation invite youth-serving organizations to participate in a Youth Development & Nature Cohort to build community capacity for integrating nature and youth development.
This infographic provides a visual framework to understand how intentionally integrating youth development and nature connection programs can help youth reach their fullest potential.
This tool is designed for nature-based and youth-serving organizations to assess where their programs situate on the continuum of integration of youth development and nature engagement practices.
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.
Nature Connection: Research shows that spending regular time in nature makes children healthier, happier and smarter.
The Youth Leadership Development tool describes best practices in developing youth voice, connection to nature, and engagement in city planning processes.
This webinar discusses the importance of making long-term investments leadership development and training for diverse young leaders.
This webinar presents research and strategies for increasing equitable access to nature, including C&NN’s Cities Connecting Children to Nature, Natural Leaders and Green Schoolyards initiatives.
A webinar exploring the potential of youth engagement, leadership and stewardship activities to foster nature connection in cities.
11 Resources
"I was shocked at how much you could see the stars. I hadn't realized how much you couldn't see from the city but could see from there....
Something magical happens when a diverse group of young people go into beautiful, remote places in nature together. Courage, confidence and community awareness grow—and wonderment is as common as rain. I have seen over and over again how the Boys and Girls Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD & GOLD) program fosters a sense of awe, agency and connectedness between youth participants—and with the natural world.
The Children & Nature Network is pleased to announce that nine organizations from across the U.S. have been selected for a Youth Development & Nature Cohort designed to enhance local partnerships, build cultural awareness and engage youth in meaningful outdoor experiences.
The Children & Nature Network and the National Recreation Foundation invite youth-serving organizations to participate in a Youth Development & Nature Cohort to build community capacity for integrating nature and youth development.
Professor Charlie Nilon stumbled upon his career like a hiker might stumble across a fawn on a forest trail. Nilon, who is the William J. Rucker Professor in Fisheries and Wildlife at the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri, grew up in Boulder, Colorado.
This infographic provides a visual framework to understand how intentionally integrating youth development and nature connection programs can help youth reach their fullest potential.
This tool is designed for nature-based and youth-serving organizations to assess where their programs situate on the continuum of integration of youth development and nature engagement practices.
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.
We partnered with the Outdoor Foundation, Search Institute, and Fresh Tracks to better understand the intersection of youth development and nature-based programming. This work, made possible with funding from the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, resulted in the development of tools and resources that unite youth development and nature-based programs around a common goal of helping youth reach their full potential as people--and as nature advocates.
A collection of research examining the benefits of taking an intentional approach to promoting youth development outcomes in nature-based programs.
This tool explores how service and conservation corps partnerships engage young people in outdoor, hands-on service while also accomplishing projects for cities.
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