The evidence is clear: spending time outdoors, in nature, is essential for children’s healthy development. From improving academic and social-emotional learning outcomes, to supporting physical and mental health, children thrive when they have frequent access to outdoor spaces, experiences and learning.
National League of Cities’ is partnering with the Children & Nature Network and KABOOM! to increase equitable access to Nature Everywhere children live, learn and play in 100 U.S. communities by 2025 through the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative.
Through Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN), municipal leaders have been advancing equitable access to nature since 2014. Nature Everywhere Communities is an expansion of CCCN, recognizing the value of leaders from the education, nonprofit, philanthropic, grass roots and private sectors to drive systems-level change.
Nature Everywhere Communities have access to tools, resources and a national network of leaders who share successful strategies for connecting children to the benefits to nature.
Communities can choose one of two pathways:
- Action Challenge communities is a self-directed and self-paced option that can help your city advance nature connection goals. It includes access to a national peer learning network, toolkits, case studies and promotional materials for building awareness and gaining local and national recognition as an Action Challenge Community.
- Accelerator communities are part of a 2-year, intensive commitment that includes direct technical assistance with support in assessment and planning, a national peer learning network, seed grants and more. Cities are selected through a competitive application process.
We encourage cities to learn more about becoming a Nature Everywhere Community.
The Growing CCCN Network of Cities
Take the Nature Everywhere Community Action Challenge
This self-directed and self-paced program helps communities advance their nature connection goals. It includes access to a peer learning network, toolkits, case studies and promotional materials to build awareness and to gain local and national recognition as a Nature Everywhere Action Challenge Community.
Find more tools for city leaders and their community partners in the CCCN Resource Hub. And to learn more about the CCCN team at NLC, email us.
Empowering Small Cities with the Nature Everywhere Community Action Challenge
- Melanie Robinson
- Andrew Moore
Lessons from the Cities of Opportunity Mayors Institute on Community Revitalization
On Your Mind: Commissioner Amber Sellers of Lawrence, KS Discusses How Early Childhood Investments Support Community Wellbeing
3 Strategies for Local Leaders to Improve Democracy
Stressed Parents, Stressed Cities: Understanding the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Parental Stress
- Lara Burt
- Sarah Weller Pegna, MPH
