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Things often grow slowly in the desert. Take the saguaro cactus. At Saguaro National Park outside Tucson, Arizona, it takes 75-100 years for these giants to sprout...

What happens when kids spend time outside closely observing nature’s ingenuity? Sometimes, what they see inspires solutions to real-world problems.  At a biomimicry summer summit in India, children studied termites, flamingos and dragonflies before designing solutions for challenges like flooding, air pollution and accessibility for visually impaired people in their communities. Meanwhile in Mississippi, 16-year-old Girl Scout Julianne Marett helped more kids and families spend time outdoors. After hiking local trails and documenting what she found, Julianne created backpacks stocked with trail guides, binoculars and nature activities that families can check out from the library. Both stories point to the same lesson: Nature connection sparks confidence, creativity — and community action. The Dispatch.

Remember making mud pies, lying in the summer grass looking up through the tree canopy and running barefoot through warm sand? A new U.K. survey found that 88% of adults have happy memories of spending time outdoors as children — yet nearly half now spend three hours or less outside each week. In the poll, today’s young adults ages 18 to 24 were the most indoorsy generation, spending even less time outside than the average adult. That’s why The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging families to “rewild your inner child” through their annual 30 Days Wild challenge. As the article says: “Being outdoors in nature has so much joy to offer us all.” Need more inspo? Check out the Vitamin N Challenge, which will begin in late June! The Wildlife Trusts.

“It’s not only up to parents to create play opportunities,” argue a team of researchers in this sharp and informative article. “Who gets to play, where they play and how they play are not neutral questions.” These experts write that access to safe green spaces is an equity issue, shaped by city planning, politics, public investment and policy. Families in dense or under-resourced neighborhoods often have fewer opportunities for spontaneous outdoor play, which impacts children’s mental health, learning and social development. One promising solution? Nature-filled “third places” such as parks, libraries and community gardens that invite kids to explore, imagine and adventure together. The Conversation.

“We used to have ‘wet breaks’ where we had to sit inside the classroom and just draw,” says Juliet, a student at St John’s Church of England Primary School. “It affected our learning… because when you’re stuck inside, your brain gets all wrong, but when you go outside, it makes you feel better.” The school’s playground used to flood so badly after storms that children often couldn’t use it. In response, the school partnered with UK charity Trees for Cities to replace asphalt with a garden full of native plants and stepping logs — that also provides a sustainable drainage system. “Now, because of the rain gardens, you get to have more play,” Juliet explains. Kids play — and pollinators abound! The Guardian.

Kik, kik, kik, kreee! Class dismissed! For one week in May, recess at more than 6,300 French primary schools began not with a ringing bell, but with the sounds of threatened wildlife — including not only the scratchy, high-pitched calls of whiskered terns but also wolves, sperm whales and lynxes. The campaign, led by WWF France and dubbed “The Call of Nature,” reached roughly 650,000 children and paired each animal sound with games, stories and classroom activities designed to spark curiosity about nature. Brilliant: Working on the Louvian premise that you can’t protect what you don’t know exists, the WWF transformed a ritual kids already love into a playful daily encounter with wildlife. Trend Watching.

Each year, the Children & Nature Network awards the Richard Louv Prize for Innovation in Nature Connection. Through our nomination...

Few institutions sit at the heart of a neighborhood quite like places of worship. They nourish our spiritual lives, run food pantries and clothing drives and quietly...

Kids today are spending more time on screens — and facing rising rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness. “We need an antidote to that, and we can find one in time outdoors,” writes Outdoors Alliance for Kids founder Jackie Ostfeld in this part editorial, part call-to-action. Ostfeld argues that nature can help reconnect children to themselves and the world around them — something she champions through her work as director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. As the Sierra Club works to expand access to parks, green schoolyards and affordable outdoor experiences for families, it has also launched a youth essay contest — because kids, Ostfeld suggests, are “closest to the crisis and the answers.” Sierra.

Public policy and funding decisions at all levels of government directly impact children’s ability to engage with and learn from nature. Policies and advocacy efforts around the...

Nature may (should!) soon join sleep, nutrition and exercise as a pillar of public health. At the first National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation in Washington, D.C., healthcare leaders and nature connection advocates gathered around a growing body of research showing that time outside measurably improves human health. “We have evidence,” said Dr. Michael Suk. “We’re not in the space of saying, ‘I wish I could prove this.’” In addition to honoring Children & Nature Network co-founder and author Richard Louv with a lifetime achievement award, the event highlighted research linking nature exposure to lower rates of myopia, improved mental health and reduced healthcare costs. One big takeaway? Encouraging outdoor recreation — from walking to camping — may be one of the most practical public health tools we have. Deseret News.

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough! From London’s Royal Albert Hall to classrooms and cinemas, children and families everywhere celebrated the naturalist who introduced generations to the wonders of wildlife through programs like “Life on Earth” and “Blue Planet.” On Attenborough’s recent birthday, children at one English infant school dressed as animals, insects and explorers in his honor. Elsewhere, an illustrator created a hand-painted thank you note, sharing how Attenborough’s documentaries helped her previously nonverbal son begin speaking. “I would just like to thank Sir David for helping my son let us into his world. For sparking such interest and curiosity in him and so many other children.” PBS News.

Across New York City, green schoolyard transformations are supplanting asphalt with features that combat flooding and heat islands — and giving third-graders their first taste of agency. As schools reimagine playgrounds as vibrant community spaces, the students help design schoolyards that reflect what they want and need, surveying classmates and working with landscape architects and city leaders along the way. Their ideas often solve problems adults overlook. At one Bronx school, girls asked for a pink basketball court. “Of course, anyone could play there,” writes Tamar Renaud, New York State director at Trust for Public Land. “But the boys tended to avoid it, and the girls finally had an equal chance to play basketball in their yard.” The 74.

What do microbes, carnivorous plants and beaver pellets have in common? At WaterWorks Environmental Learning Lab in Hartselle, Alabama, they’re all part of the hands-on adventure. In 2011, the innovative program transformed a former water treatment plant into a living classroom where kids and families can explore wetland trails, peer through microscopes and learn about everything from filter feeders to microplastics. Old water tanks now teem with frogs, turtles, insects — and soon, pitcher plants and sundews. The goal, says director Kelly McInnis, is simple: Spark curiosity and help every visitor fall in love with nature, one wetland at a time. Hartselle Enquirer.

American families haven’t stopped wanting nature-rich childhoods — but getting outside feels harder than ever. A new survey found that while 95% of parents believe nature is essential for childhood development, only about a third of families get outside together multiple times a week. Meanwhile, more than 1 in 4 children get at least five hours a day of recreational screen time. Parents cite packed schedules, the high cost of recreational experiences and gear, and a lack of nearby nature as major barriers. “The outdoors has become something aspirational rather than automatic,” the article notes. Stacker.

Mental health isn't just about clinical care — it’s about the environments where children live, learn and play. Evidence shows that nature connection can enhance children’s mental...

Communities trying to increase equitable access to nature face many barriers. Still, some cities and organizations have found ways to connect children...

Want to introduce your kiddos to art? On a rainy first trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, England, with her toddler, author Hannah Davies makes the case for skipping the hush-hush and hands-off of the museum and going outdoors instead. “No white walls. No string barriers. No alarms. No beady-eyed gallery attendants. Just a whole lot of green space in which to charge about and come across awe-inspiring art while you’re at it.” Across 500 acres of fields, woodland and gardens, children can discover (and touch!) art, while making bark rubbings, gathering twigs and exploring the Hidden Forest designed for under-fives. Where art and nature connection are entwined, both feel more playful and less intimidating. The Guardian.

What happens when we no longer know the names of the plants, birds and animals around us? Researchers and educators say that if everything is just “bird” or “tree,” much of the natural world fades into the background, weakening our relationship to nature — and our ability to care for it. But there’s hope! We can rebuild that bond for children (and ourselves!) by learning the specific names of things in the natural world. Joining community science projects and using identification apps can help. The payoff is big: Learning names sparks curiosity, strengthens memory and turns ordinary surroundings into places of wonder, relationship and care. Resilience.

High school student Dyami Mason wants people to understand what could be lost when outdoor learning programs are cut. In this passionate editorial, Mason writes about the TEAM program at his school in San Anselmo, California, which hosts backpacking trips, leadership challenges and time in nature. Despite its popularity, the program is at threat of being reduced. “Programs like TEAM are not a break from education; rather, they are a powerful form of it,” Mason explains, noting that its format helps participants build independence, teamwork and real-world skills. Pointing to research that suggests time in nature can boost focus and classroom engagement, Mason argues that programs like TEAM help make school meaningful for all students. Point Reyes Light.

It’s time to get our feet dirty. From Germany’s Black Forest to northern Arizona, barefoot trails are designed to help visitors experience the outdoors with all their senses. Walkers squish through cool mud, step on pine needles, explore meditation caves and test different textures beneath their feet. The idea has roots in 19th-century Europe, and a growing interest in “grounding,” or “earthing,” touts the benefits of standing barefoot on the earth, claiming improvements in emotional well-being, sleep and inflammation. In Arizona, one trail founder was inspired to create a U.S. version after visiting parks in Europe with her family. She now offers school visits, camps and educational programs for children. The bigger goal, she says, is “integrating those natural environments into people’s daily lives.” Associated Press.

Dear adults, our kids are braver and more capable than we think! In this story, climbing guides argue that rock climbing can help children discover confidence and resilience — by doing things they didn’t know they could do. One guide recalls an 8-year-old camper who was frightened during a climb. When she reached the top, all her fear had fallen away, and she declared it her favorite day of camp. The guides offer practical tips for getting kids climbing: Begin in the gym, emphasize fun, and build community with other families. Along the way, they reinforce the benefits of managed risk: “We’re giving them real responsibilities,” a guide said, mentioning activities like checking their knots. “It’s good for them to practice and learn that they can be trusted.” Gripped.

Blowing bubbles, breathing salty ocean air, collecting violet blooms — sounds like good medicine! At Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the Prescribe Outside program helps doctors write “nature prescriptions” for their patients. With support from the Children & Nature Network’s Nature Everywhere initiative, more than 50 providers across six CHOP locations have written prescriptions, reaching some 1,300 families and children. The prescriptions are tailored to each family and might include playing soccer with neighbors or exploring nearby parks. Working with partners, the program also offers organized hikes, outdoor yoga, farm tours and other family outings. Bonus: Some events welcome hospital staff, too, helping caregivers enjoy the same stress-relieving benefits they prescribe. Philadelphia.

Recently, a childhood friend reached out. She’d been thinking about long friendships and missing me. “I have the most vivid memories of sitting up in your neighbor’s...

As a university student in Colombia, Caro Muñoz Agudelo dreaded entomology class: She was terrified of the creepy crawlies. But one day her professor set a cockroach on her hand, and she found herself more fascinated than afraid. It was a turning point: She joined the entomology club, earned a Ph.D. in organismal and evolutionary biology — and now has built a career studying the insects she once feared. In this inspiring profile, Agudelo shares her belief that time in nature helps us understand who we are: “You are just like one more element in this gorgeous environment, gorgeous planet.” Her advice to parents? Don’t let your fears shape your children’s relationship with the outdoors. Support their curiosity instead. New England Public Media.

Sometimes, it takes a village to get kids onto the ski slopes. In Hamtramck, Michigan, where many families are newer immigrants from places like Bangladesh, Yemen and Syria, barriers to skiing can be steep: cost, gear, distance, language, cultural unfamiliarity and parents understandably cautious about a trip hours from home. But for the past five winters, a busload of local teens has found a joyful workaround. In this uplifting story, community partners join forces to make an annual ski trip possible, providing lodging, gear, transportation, mentors — and even a school fundraiser for food. After a day on the slopes, students, teachers and volunteers gather around chicken biryani, pierogi, basmati rice, Yemeni tea and baklava — flavors of home shared with new friends. Sierra Club.

At a nature park in Kyiv, families crowded around volunteers releasing rescued bats into the spring twilight — cheering with each flight. Many of the bats had been saved from war-damaged areas, where shelling can destroy habitat and interrupt hibernation. Children in bat-themed hats watched volunteers feed the bats mealworms with tweezers, and some even got to put on gloves and gently hold the animals. In Ukraine, all bat species are protected, and rescuers say they have saved more than 30,000 so far. As one father at the event put it: “The war is the main thing right now, but there has to be something else as well.” Associated Press.

Nadeem Perera spent his childhood in east London following the nighttime hijinks of foxes, watching rabbits hop in desolate airport fields and rescuing hedgehogs from errant yogurt containers. In this lively piece, the naturalist reminds us that kids don’t need a trip to the countryside to discover wildlife — nature is threaded through city life. He shares practical ways to help urban children notice the wild world around them. Among his actionable tips: Teach your child one neighborhood bird really well, turn the walk to school into a nature trail, and don’t rush to shut down fascination with gross, smelly and potentially scary stuff, like animal poo and wasp nests. The Times.

In 1994, I made what some thought was a radical decision: I left my busy life in Atlanta, Georgia, and moved my family to our weekend farm...

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of several U.S. cities that’s joined the growing nature prescription movement. Nature prescriptions are formal recommendations from healthcare professionals that encourage patients to...