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Blog Entries - youth development

A group of children use binoculars to look for birds
Photo courtesy of Urban Adventure Squad

Birdwatching with Kids

Birdwatching has a long history as a hobby, but it has grown exponentially in recent years. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that there are approximately 45 million birdwatchers in the United

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a child leans in while holding a camera up to their eye
Photo courtesy of Parks in Focus

Grantee Spotlight: Parks in Focus

Sometimes it can feel as though kids are asked to choose between their interests instead of being celebrated for engaging with lots of different kinds of activities. They can either excel at dance or science,

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a group of people stand and sit together smiling
Photo courtesy of Children & Nature Network

Children & Nature Network Boosts Capacity for Outdoor Programs

The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) received an Impact Grant from NRF in 2021 that wrapped up at the end of 2022. The grant focused on expanding the ongoing work of C&NN to increase capacity across the youth

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A person takes a selfie with a large group smiling in the background
Photo Courtesy of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps

Build Community in the Outdoors on National Trails Day

The first Saturday in June is National Trails Day. Organized by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is a day to appreciate the local trails that make the outdoors an enjoyable and welcoming place to be.

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A group of teens stand holding upright surf boards on a beach
Photo courtesy of Native Like Water

Indigenizing Outdoor Recreation

Due to historical and present day forms of racism, including the legacy of colonialism, many Indigenous communities do not have access to the same services and resources as predominantly white communities. Indigenous

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KIF
Photo courtesy of Kids in Focus

NRF Announces 2023 Special Grant and Trustee Grant Recipients

The National Recreation Foundation is pleased to announce its 2023 Special Grant and Trustee Grant recipients. More than $950,000 was distributed to 41 organizations across 20 states and the District of Columbia. NRF is

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