Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights brings leaders, residents together
City leaders across the country are using a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBOR) as an opportunity to galvanize residents and community partners to ignite the children and nature changes needed in their area. Learn more in this in-depth story about how cities are using COBORs to garner support for children and nature connections.
|
|
Turning Education Inside Out: How green schoolyards can help make schools safer this Fall - and improve kids’ lives permanently
“It’s not too late for educators, parents and superintendents to take steps that allow kids to learn in fresh air settings at least part of the time, which can tip the scales toward in-person education for some school districts. This can be easily and economically done by opening up schoolgrounds, closing off adjoining streets, walking to nearby parks or incorporating field trips into K-12 curriculum.” This news story explores how cities are maximizing outdoor learning and green schoolyards to make schools safer amid a pandemic.
|
|
|
FROM THE FIELD: CCCN CITIES
|
|
|
City reps gathered to exchange strategies and ideas for funding and advocacy
At the Children & Nature Network’s 2020 Inside Out Leadership Summit, representatives from 37 cities gathered virtually to discuss how to grow and sustain financial resources including public will for nature-based initiatives. Some highlights from the Cities and Nature Action Area include:
- National Recreation and Parks Alliance shared national data on Park & Rec agency budgets, citing that as of June 2020, 2/3rd of agencies have reduced operations budgets, 57% of agencies have cut capital spending and many have hiring freezes or lay off or furloughed part-time and seasonal staff. Explore their metrics and agenda performance data.
- City Parks Alliance shared funding best practices including: 1) federal funding is an important source for pro-equity projects; 2) strategic partnerships can help tap new funding sources, share costs and reallocate resources, and 3) engage existing residents to meet their needs and mitigate displacement. Their equitable park funding report is an excellent resource for city park funding.
- Reimagining Civic Commons also shared their expertise on how best to create an active city that includes civic engagement, socioeconomic diversity, environment sustainability and greater economic value. Their resources help cities work effectively, measure social impact, and learn what outcomes have worked for other leaders.
- CCCN encouraged participants to inventory their current funding sources by using this CCCN Funding Discussion Tool to help cities evaluate and enhance their funding strategies.
|
|
Children & Nature Network’s Inside-Out Virtual Leadership Summit
September 29 - 30 | Highlights Tickets for On-demand Recordings Available
For the past week, children and nature leaders have been convening online for strategic agenda setting and action. To make this year's summit available to more participants, the Children & Nature Network is pleased to offer a Summit Highlights ticket, giving you access to on-demand recordings of an inspiring keynote address focused on fighting systemic racism, conversations with public health and policy experts, report outs from city government action area leaders, and more.
|
|
2020 SHIFT Summit: Equity, Access and The Mental Health Benefits of Time Outside
October 14-16 | Virtual
THE 2020 SHIFT SUMMIT will broadcast virtually. Entitled “Healthy by Nature,” the Summit will focus on the mental health benefits of time outside, with a specific focus on health equity and access to nature. Learn more about the SHIFT summit.
|
|
|
Designing a Safe, Green Schoolyard, Parks and Recreation Magazine, Oct 2020
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
Made possible with support from:
|
|
|
|
|
