Crawford Prize

Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize

2025 Prize Recipient

Heather Kuhlken

When Heather Kuhlken moved into a new house in Austin, Texas, with her young family in 2008, a neighbor came over and asked, “I heard you used to teach science outside. Can you take our family and friends camping and teach us some science?” Kuhlken pointed to her three- and six-year-old children and responded, “I don't think so, that sounds too hard to do with two little kids.” As she reflected on the conversation, her love for teaching natural sciences to young people and her passion for spending time outdoors tugged at her heart. Within a few hours, Kuhlken changed her mind.

“I went inside and thought about how I would do it. I knew that I wanted to take all ages outside together. I wanted siblings and families to have shared memories in the outdoors,” said Kuhlken. “And, I wanted to teach natural sciences, but in a way that people wouldn’t realize they were learning. Basically, I planned three years of outings and then went back outside and said yes.” Families in Nature (FIN) was born.

Eight families signed up within 24 hours. By the end of the year, their nature community was going outside together every other week with 35 families (about 120 people), and they had to start a waiting list.

“What's unique about our family-centric approach is that the kids are learning, the adults are learning, and they're teaching each other,” said Kuhlken. “We’re reinforcing that sense of community that's crucial to having positive, joyful, and transformative experiences in nature.”

FIN’s mission is to connect children and their families to nature, and to each other, through outdoor learning, playing, and volunteering. The learning comes in the form of “sneaky science,” as dubbed by Kuhlken. “Sneaky science is my phrase for what happens when you take people outside and their curiosity drives them to look deeper into nature. Then, a mentor adds a sentence or two of scientific knowledge that enhances the activity and drives their curiosity even further.”

Kuhlken's nocturnal creatures lesson is a good example. She distributes headlamps to kids during a nighttime adventure. When they shine the light onto a field, it looks like it’s sparkling with glitter. Kuhlken provides some “sneaky science” when she explains that those sparkles are actually reflections from spider eyes. This two-minute science lesson teaches how nocturnal creatures, such as spiders, have a membrane in the back of their eyes that reflects light and allows them to gather twice as much light while seeing in the dark. “Then the kids excitedly run around looking for spiders and connecting with nature for the next hour,” says Kuhlken.

Since its backyard beginnings, FIN has grown into an international environmental education and conservation organization that has served more than 32,000 people, delivered 370,000+ hours of outdoor programming, and certified more than 250 nature guides. Its scalable model pairs hands-on, place-based learning with inclusive, nature-based leadership practices, helping young people translate curiosity into knowledge, and understanding into stewardship. Its Ecologist School curriculum, Nature Guide training, Junior Ecologist Certifications, Gear Library, and school and community partnerships deliver equitable, research-informed outdoor learning that builds scientific literacy, leadership, a deep love for nature, and a lifelong commitment to conservation.

In addition to leading and growing FIN, Kuhlken has presented on environmental education, equitable access, community resilience, and youth leadership at local, national, and international convenings, including most recently at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress. Kuhlken also authored a soon-to-be released book, Adventures in Ecology: A Guidebook to Inspire Environmental Literacy, Outdoor Exploration, and Nature Connection for All (Texas A&M University Press, 2026), that shares more than 1,100 hands-on science-based lessons for all ages that can be done anywhere with minimal materials.

NRF specifically recognized Kuhlken for incorporating and celebrating families in her community-rooted programs that transform young people’s relationship with nature. “When we first learned about Heather's work with Families in Nature, we were so impressed by her creativity and focus on families,” said NRF President and CEO Sophie Twichell.

“It is an honor to receive the Crawford Prize and be recognized and supported by the National Recreation Foundation,” said Kuhlken. “Families in Nature has national and international partners, and the Crawford Prize will help us meaningfully activate those partnerships and launch nature communities in new locations throughout the United States and beyond.”

To learn more about Families in Nature, visit familiesinnature.org.

Images courtesy of Heather Kuhlken and Families in Nature. 

The Crawford Prize

Presented annually since 2002, the Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize recognizes a person dedicated to enhancing recreation opportunities for youth, making it possible for more young people to live healthy, participatory lives, thus reinforcing the work of the Foundation. The Prize is awarded to a person, professional or volunteer, who has made an extraordinary contribution in advancing recreation programs for youth from disadvantaged circumstances. In addition to the recognition, the Prize consists of a $50,000 contribution supporting access to outdoor recreation.

Robert W. Crawford

For 60 years, Robert W. Crawford served others through his role as Commissioner of Recreation in Philadelphia and as Executive Director of the National Recreation Foundation. As the Commissioner of Recreation, Mr. Crawford established a national model for local government's provision of recreational services for all citizens. His creativity and innovative ideas won him international recognition. He also played an important role in the development and growth of the National Recreation Foundation during his time as its Executive Director. Mr. Crawford personified those qualities of leadership and commitment that the Foundation seeks to foster, which is why this Achievement Prize was named in his honor.

Video

Watch this video to learn about the life and legacy of Robert W. Crawford.

Past Prize Winners