Oct 2019: Nature Play Spaces in cities: video, resources, and research

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Nature Play Spaces: A Visual Tour
Innovative cities are installing nature play spaces to foster outdoor learning, improve children’s development and enhance parks and open spaces. Take a tour of some of the many possibilities available to cities through this new animated video.

Webinar Recording: Enhancing Public Spaces with Nature Play
The highlights from this webinar recording looks at a city perspective on the form and function of nature play spaces and how cities are adding nature-filled play areas to increase equitable access to nature. Watch highlights from webinar.

Nature Play Spaces: These tools and resources help cities better understand the benefits of nature play and highlight ways cities can incorporate nature play features in parks, childcare centers, schools, libraries, museums, and zoos:

Nature Play Spaces for Children & Families Webinar: A previously recorded CCCN webinar that showcases how designing nature play into everyday life yields multiple benefits for children.
Nature Connection in Early Childhood Strategy Tool: This strategy tool provides overviews of nature play spaces and nature preschools for early childhood.
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums Nature Play initiative: City zoos and aquariums can access these tools and resources to establish or enhance nature play experiences.
Nature Play Can Encourage Care for the Earth Infographic: An illustration on how to create nature champions and the benefits of nature play.

18 CCCN Cities Share Best Practices at All-Site Gathering in St. Paul, MN
Representatives from all 18 CCCN cities spent two packed days exploring ways to enhance and sustain their efforts to provide all kids with regular access to the many benefits of nature. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter kicked off the meeting with a dose of inspiration by reminding us that connecting children to nature grows environmental stewardship and promotes equitable use of critical city resources. Watch a clip from Mayor Carter's address or his full 9 minute speech. Check out tweets via #citykids2nature.

Competitive Status: 2020 Environmental Literacy Program (ELP) Funding Opportunity is now open, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Department of Commerce, Pre-Application due: Nov. 25, 2019.

America Walks Opens 2019 Community Change Grant Applications, America Walks, Applications due: Nov. 8, 2019.

Child Approved: How Boulder’s Kids Envisioned the City’s Most Popular Nature Play Installation, Children & Nature Network, The New Nature Movement, Boulder, CO, August 15, 2019.

St. Louis’ Great City Park Breaks Ground on New Nature Playscape, The St. Louis American, St. Louis, MO, July 15, 2019.

In DC, Building Bridges for Equitable Economic Growth, CitiesSpeak, National League of Cities, Washington, DC, Sept 23, 2019.

Austin Parks Department Receives Grant to Study Health, Climate Change, Statesman, Austin, TX, Oct. 10, 2019.

Running Wild: Engaging and empowering future custodians of place through creative nature-based play, Journal of Public Pedagogies, 2018.

During their middle childhood years, children prefer natural landscape elements for walking and outdoor play, Landscape Research, May 14, 2018.

Preschoolers’ sociodramatic play is more complex in a naturalized versus traditional outdoor playspace, International Journal of Play, Jan 15, 2016.

The Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative helps city leaders and their partners ensure that all children have the opportunity to play, learn and grow in nature, from urban parks and community gardens to the great outdoors. Check out our online resource hub, and join the conversation on Twitter with #citykids2nature!