In the Garden State, a new coalition for nature connection is growing

Kristy Omelianuk, pictured with her two daughters.

As a mom with two young children, I’ve personally experienced how nature can improve the mental and physical health of youth. Inconsolable baby? Put her in the carrier and go for a walk outside. Stressed third grader struggling with homework? Time to take a break and explore the woods in our neighborhood. My experience is backed by research from countless studies over multiple decades, demonstrating how connecting kids with nature improves their overall well-being.

However, not everyone in my home state of New Jersey knows about the benefits of spending time outside or can easily access greenspace in their neighborhoods. Safe outdoor spaces are not equitably distributed throughout the state, resulting in a lack of nature accessibility for all and preventing true health equity. I’m proud to be a founding member of the New Jersey Kids in Nature Coalition steering committee – because our goal is to change that.

The New Jersey Kids in Nature Coalition was initially envisioned by New Jersey Audubon in response to growing concern about the health and well-being impacts of pandemic-driven online learning and the increasing use of screen time on young people. After securing a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New Jersey Audubon began connecting with various organizations, all dedicated to supporting youth in diverse capacities throughout the state. The initial phase of the coalition focused on getting better acquainted with the partner organizations that would form the steering committee, gaining a deeper understanding of shared priorities and building mutually beneficial relationships.

Nature is vital for kids’ health and happiness, but increasingly sedentary lifestyles paired with a lack of equitably distributed greenspaces mean that too many kids miss out. Graphic courtesy of NJ Kids in Nature.

The New Jersey Kids in Nature Coalition steering committee, headed by New Jersey Audubon, is made up of partners from Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE), Boys & Girls Club in New Jersey, NJSACC: NJ’s Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Professional Network, Outdoor Equity Alliance, Waterspirit, New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, The College of New Jersey School of Education, Environmental Sustainability Education and the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreational and Dance. 

I’m endlessly appreciative of the creativity and diverse breadth of knowledge that each of the talented folks from these organizations brought to the table during the formation of the coalition. Together, we worked to define a guiding vision for our work: a world in which all of New Jersey’s children can joyfully play outdoors, inspiring a connection to the environment and resulting in long-term healthy lifestyles.

To fulfill this vision, the coalition will support organizations connecting all children with nature and partner with the healthcare community to raise awareness about the importance of outdoor play for children’s health. The steering committee also designed and populated content for the coalition’s new website, NJKidsinNature.org. The website has resources for healthcare professionals, educators and caring adults, including easy steps they can take today to make a difference and help kids all over New Jersey enjoy the benefits of spending more time outside.

I look forward to continuing my work with New Jersey Kids in Nature and getting the word out about our mission, so that more New Jersey-based youth-serving organizations, agencies and other groups join our movement. With the help of the coalition, I hope that there will soon be more conversations about the inequities of nature access in the Garden State, and that more parents, caretakers, healthcare professionals and educators will have the tools and resources that they need to help kids all over New Jersey enjoy our natural world. 

If you’re interested in learning more, you can connect with New Jersey Kids in Nature via their website, Facebook or Instagram, or reach out to Kristy at kristy@childrenandnature.org

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