National Recreation Foundation Blog https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/ National Recreation Foundation Blog National Recreation Foundation Blog Nature Gap Report Emphasizes the Importance of Nature Access https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/nature-gap-report-emphasizes-the-importance-of-nature-access/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 EST https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/nature-gap-report-emphasizes-the-importance-of-nature-access/
A family bikes on a greenway together

At NRF, we’re invested in helping kids spend time outside for many reasons. Outdoor recreation is joyful, and kids deserve opportunities to have fun. We are, however, driven by more than a desire to connect kids to

A Most Beautiful Thing, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, ABC Park, access to food, access to greenspace, access to nature, access to outdoors, accessibility, accessible storytelling, action agenda, active kids, adolescence, adolescent pressures, adolescent recreation, adolescent wellbeing, adventure recreation, advisory council, afterschool programming, afterschool programs, agents of change, agricultural economies, agricultural education, agricultural literacy, agritourism, Air Alliance Houston, air pollution, alabama, albuquerque, Alex Bailey, altruism, american camp association, american hiking society, american teenagers, antarctic tourism, antiracism in the outdoors, arizona, Arshay Cooper, arts education, Asheville, aspen institute, athletic surfaces, Atiya Wells, Atlanta, Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Youth Rugby, Atlanta Youth Tennis, audubon texas, ayana elizabeth johnson, backyard basecamp, Backyard Basecamp, Bakeyah Nelson, baltimore woods nature center, barriers to access, barriers to recreation, basketball, Bearings Bike Shop, belongingness, benefits of recreation, beyond the ball, Beyond the Game, bicycle ride across georgia, big brothers big sisters, bikepacking, biodiversity, biological anthropologist, bipoc youth, bipoc youth programming, bird identification, birds in my neighborhood, black history month, black kid adventures, black kids adventures, Black outdoor recreation, black outside, Black Outside, Bloom Project, Blue Sky Funders Forum, blue sky funders forum, boatbuilding, Bob Crawford, boys & girls clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, brain development, bronx river, brothers on the rise, brower youth award, brown girls climb, brushwood center at ryerson woods, buffalo harvest, burnout, Caitlin Reilly, california, california schoolyard forest system, camp counselors, camp fire, camper education, Camping & Education Foundation, Camping to Connect, canoe camping, canopy coverage, capacity building, carbon sink, career exploration, career path, casel social emotional learning standards, catamount institute, center for american progress, center for digital thriving, center for effective philanthropy, center for healing and justice through sport, center for native american youth, center for recreation education arts technology and enterprise, center of southwest culture, CETA Foundation, challenge, challenge course, charles crenshaw, Charles E. Hartsoe Fellow, Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, charles roundtree bloom project, cheyenne, chicago, Chicago CRED, Children & Nature Network, children & nature network, children and nature network, children's forest of central oregon, children's screen time action network, chill foundation, cincinnati, citizen science, City Kids Wilderness Project, city planning, City Sailors, civic empowerment project, civic engagement, CJ Goulding, classroom resources, climate action, climate anxiety, Climate Change, climate change, climate change mitigation, climate impacts, climate joy, climate justice, climate mental health network, climate mitigation, climate movement, climate solutions, coach training, cold weather fun, collaboration, collective action, collective resistance, College of Natural Resources, communal learning, communication, communications strategy, communities of care, community action, community building, community connection, community engagement, community film festivals, community learning, community level environmental literacy, community mentorship, community nature connection, community organization, community organizations, community partners, community programming, community schools, community violence, community water safety, community wellbeing, competitive jump rope, connecticut institute for communities, connection to nature, connection to place, conservation behavior, Conservation Leadership, conservation science partners, cooking with kids, cool learning experience, cornell lab of ornithology, coronavirus, courage ranch, CourtBuilders, COVID safety, COVID-19, covid-19, Cranbrook, Crawford Prize, crawford prize, CREATE, crew, cultivating community, cultural connection, cultureseed, dam removal, Darryl Taylor, data analysis, Davidson College, Day of Sport, debt-ceiling crisis, decision making, decolonization, deficit thinking, deforestation, DEI outdoors, demographic data, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Derwin Hannah, Detroit, detroit horse power, developmental outcomes, digital tools, diné we can, disabled hikers, displacement, diversity education, diversity equity and inclusion, diversity in nature, diversity in the outdoors, diversity outdoors, documentary filmmaking, dr. teresa horton, drowning, duke marine lab community science initiative, eagle eye institute, early adulthood, early childhood, earth day, earth day with kids, east st louis, eastern sierra conservation corps, eco-anxiety, eco-chaplains, Eco-Health, ecoanxiety, ecological resilience, eden place nature center, effective communication, effective narratives, efficacy, elevate youth, Elliott Donnelley Youth Center, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Emerson Collective, empathy, English Avenue, EnviroAtlas, environment, environmental action, Environmental Activism, environmental activism, environmental advocacy, environmental affinity, environmental change, environmental crisis, environmental degradation, environmental education, Environmental Education, environmental ethic, environmental filmmaking, environmental funding, environmental future, environmental hope, environmental jobs, environmental justice, environmental leaders, environmental leadership, environmental learning for kids, environmental literacy, environmental movement, environmental science for kids, environmental sector, environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, environmentalism for kids, EPA, equine-assisted therapy, equine-based programming, equitable access, equitable learning, equity, equity in funding, equity in the outdoors, equity outdoors, ethical storytelling, evaluation, evaluation methods, evaluation starter kit, evaluation support, evaluation with youth, every kid outdoors, evolutionary and ecological approaches to health and development program, experiential education, experiential learning, exploratory learning, exploratory STEM, explore austin, explore fund, extracurricular activities, extracurricular programs, extreme heat, eye health, Families in Nature, families outside, family camping, family fun, family holidays, family recreation, family relationships, Family Time, family-based programming, farmers markets, female athlete, Fernando Lloveras, Finding Nature, flint river watershed coalition, food forests, food justice, food literacy, food production, food security, food system, food systems, forest bathing, forest therapy, fort robinson outbreak spiritual run, foster care, fresh tracks, funding, funding opportunity, Gang Rescue and Refinement Passages, gardeneers, gardening, Gary Hall, gear libraries, gender exploration, gender inclusivity, generational indigenous ways, Georgia FIRST Robotics, get into nature, Get into nature, get outside, girl scouts, girls in STEM, girls on the run, girls outdoors, girlventures, global forest watch, gloria barron prize for young heroes, grant applications, grant opportunity, grantee cohort, grantee cohorts, Grantee Highlight, grantee resources, grantee spotlight, grantee support, grantmaking, grants, greater newark conservancy, green camps, green design, green infrastructure, green jobs, green schoolyard movement, green schoolyards, green schoolyards america, greenhouse effect, greening youth foundation, greenspace, greenspace access, group cohesion, group experiences, gtg outdoors, gulf gathering for climate justice and joy, gut health, hands and hearts for horses, hands on activities, hands on learning, Hartsoe Fellow, harvard graduate school of education, hattie carthan, healing through nature, health, health and wellbeing, health benefits of nature, healthier communities, healthy competition, healthy eating, healthy families, healthy kids, healthy living, healthy relationships, heat mitigation, heat safety, Heather Kuhlken, heatwavces, heptathalon, heritage trails partnership of the Mississippi gulf coast, higher education, hip hop for change, hiring, hispanic access foundation, hispanic americans, hispanic heritage month, history of camps, holistic grantmaking, holistic philanthropy, holistic support, holistic youth development, Horizons-Upward Bound, horseback riding, how to save a planet, Howard University, human health disparities, hurricane helene, identity development, identity exploration, illinois, IMC Charities, immune function, impact grants, inclusion, inclusion outdoors, inclusive camps, inclusive environments, inclusive practices, inclusivity in recreation, inclusivity outdoors, incubator program, indiana university lily family school of philanthropy, indigenous communities, Indigenous Leaders, indigenous leaders, indigenous leadership, indigenous led programs, indigenous philanthropy, indigenous youth, Indigenous youth, indigenous youth programming, informal learning sector, infrastructure funding, inspiring action, integrated resource networks, intergenerational connections, intergenerational learning, intergenerational programming, Intergenerational Programming, intergenerational recreation, IPCC report, jackie joyner-kersee, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, jackie joyner-kersee foundation, job boards, john francis, John McCarter, Jose Gonzalez, josé gonzález, jose gonzalez, jubilee consortium, jubilee jump, Julia Lankford, justice outside, juvenile justice system, k-12 education, k-12 teachers, Karen Stewart-Ramos, keep kids safe, Khary Lazarre-White, khmer community of seattle king county, khmer cultural practices, kids health, kids in nature, kids in summer, kids outdoors, Kids Outside, kids outside, Kim Moore Bailey, Ki’Amber Thompson, klamath river, lakota, lakota summer science field institute, land grant mission, laru beya collective, Last Child in the Woods, latino conservation week, Latino Outdoors, latino outdoors, latinos progresando, latinx identity, Laureus, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Lawrence Hall of Science, LBC Action, leadership at camp, leadership development, learn to sail, Lee Storey, LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ outdoor summit, lgbtq+ spaces, LGBTQ+ youth, lgbtq+ youth, life skills, Lila Leff, lincoln senior high school, local agriculture, local food, local food systems, local greenspace, local trails, localogy, long distance cycling, loop nola, los angeles, lower brule wildlife, Mandela, Manny Almonte, marine debris, marine science, Martin LeBlanc, Mastermind Connect, matthew henson, measuring success, mental health, mental health awareness month, mental health care, mental health crisis, mental health resources, mental health support, mentorship, Mercedes Benz, message testing, middle childhood, million coaches challenge, minneapolis, monarch butterfly, monocultures, Montreat College, mountain dreamers, mountain sports, move mountains, movement education outdoors, Muddy Sneakers, museum of the rockies, music in schools, music teachers, Myron Floyd, myron floyd, Nadja West, narrative hub, national academies of sciences engineering and medicine, national audubon society, 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Nike, non-profit organizations, nonprofit funding, nonprofit sector, nonprofit storytelling, North Carolina, north carolina, North Carolina State University, north carolina state university, Northwestern University, northwestern university, NRF, nrf advisory council, nrf grantees, nrf trustee, NRPA, nuestra tierra conservation project, okc latina, openlands, operations associate, oregon state university extension, organizational support, organizational update, Our Wild Calling, out of school time, out there adventures, out-of-school-time, outdoor access, Outdoor Access, outdoor activity, outdoor adventure, outdoor afro, outdoor alliance for kids, outdoor careers, outdoor community, outdoor education, outdoor equity, outdoor foundation, outdoor funders, outdoor grants, outdoor inclusion coalition, outdoor industry, outdoor industry association, outdoor leadership, outdoor learning, outdoor outreach, outdoor participation trends report, outdoor play, outdoor recreation, outdoor recreation grants, outdoor recreation participation, outdoor research, outdoor science education, outdoorist oath, outdoors, outdoors empowered network, Outdoors for All, outside with kids, outward bound adventures, outward bound canada, overnight camps, Pace Center for Girls, paddle tribal waters, paddleboarding, pandemic, pandemic kids, pandemic mental health, pandemic wellbeing, pandemic with kids, Para La Naturaleza, para la naturaleza, paradox climbing, park access, park activities, parks in focus, participant evaluation, participatory evaluation, PATH, pattie gonia, peer mentorship, personal resilience, Peter Westbrook, philanthropic funding, philanthropic sector, philanthropy, physical activity, physical health, pine ridge tree planting, place attachment, Place based learning, place-based learning, planet walkers, plant identification, player development, pollinators, portland, positive coaching alliance, positive youth development, Power Game+, power of the outdoors, president's environmental youth award, pride month, pride outside, Pritzker, program capacity, program design, program evaluation, program expansion, program goals, public lands, public schools, public space, puerto rico, queer mountain quest, queer nature, racial equity, REACH, Reading with Kids, ready set resilience, reciprocal philanthropy, reconnect to the land, recreation, recreation access, recreation philanthropy, recreation research, recreation safety, recreational programming, recreaton research, red cloud renewable, reforestation, refugee communities, refugee education and adventure challenge, report, research bias, research findings, research translation, resilient communities, responsible growth, Rethink Outside, rethink outside, Rethink Outside Fellowship, Richard Louv, richard louv, ríos to rivers, rippleffect, risk and resilience, risk management, river newe, river restoration, river sports, robert taylor, rocking the boat, rosario dawson, rowing, rue mapp, Ryan Zwart, sailing, SailMaine, San Antonio, Sarah Milligan-Toffler, saved by nature, school budget cuts, school farms, school gardens, school partnerships, science learning, science literacy, scientific observation, scientific research, scistarter, screen time, seasonal eating, self awareness, self care, self confidence, self-care, sense of place, service opportunities, shade access, shannon danks, she jumps, SheJumps, shelter-in-place, shinrin-yoku, shoshone-bannock, shred foundation, sicangu co, sicangu health initiative, sicangu lakota nation, Siebert Williams Shank, sierra club, skin health, skin protection, SNAP, Sneaky Science, Soccer in the Streets, social change, social emotional learning, social good, social media, social-emotional learning, soliciting donations, Sophie Twichell, sos outreach, soul track outdoors, soul trak, Soul Trak Outdoors, Special Grants, special grants, Spike Lobdell, sport based youth development, Sport Court, Sport for Good, staff spotlight, staff training, state of global air, STEM gender gap, STEM learning, story riders, storytelling, stress, summer camp, summer camps, summer fun, summer jobs, summer learning loss, summer produce, summer recreation, summer with kids, summertime, sun safety, sunscreen, supportive adults, survey research, Susan Teegen, sustainability, sustainability activities, swim education, swim lessons, swim safety, swimming, talking to kids, tankproof, Teach-A-Child to Fish, teacher collaboration, teacher support, teachers, teamwork, technology, teen stress, teresa baker, Teresa H Horton, test audiences, thanksgiving, the north face, the semilla project, the trauma foundation, the trevor project, therapy for kids, Tim Richardson, time in nature, time outside, tom's of maine, Tom's of Maine, tom's of maine incubator, toms of maine, Tony Mobley, track and field, trail building, trans and non-binary youth, trauma epidemic, trauma recovery, trauma-informed practices, tree canopy coverage, tree cover, tree cover loss, tree maintenance, tree planting, tree street youth, trekkers, trends in philanthropy, tribal communities, Trust for public lands, trust-based philanthropy, trustee, Trustee Grants, trustee grants, TSL Law Group, turner foundation, Tyrhee Moore, tyrhee moore, ucla, udall foundation, Umoja, Umoja Student Development Corporation, united nations development program, university of michigan, unrestricted funding, urban adventure squad, urban agriculture, urban farm, urban farming, urban flooding, urban forest, urban forestry, urban greenspace, urban nature, urban tree planting, urban wilderness program, us fish and wildlife service, usa swimming, usa swimming learn to swim grants, venture out project, Vine City, Virtual Training Camp, wallace foundation, warren washington, washington dc, Washington Park, water competency, water recreation, water safety, water sports, waterfront access, watershed conservation, watersmith guild, well-being practices, wellfit girls, western national parks association, western pennsylvania, Westside, whitewater paddling, wild diversity, wild earth wilderness school, wilderness inquiry, wildseed gear library, winning in life, winter outdoor activities, Winter Reading, women's sports, Wood Hood, working bikes, working with kids, wyn wiley, yellow bird life ways, yes nature to neighborhoods, Young Masterminds Initiative, young men of color, young people outdoors, youth, youth action, youth activism, youth activists, youth advocacy, youth athletes, youth awards, youth birders, youth burnout, youth civic action, youth climate action, youth climate activism, youth climate movement, youth coaches, youth coaching, youth cycling, youth decision making, youth development, youth engagement, youth enrichment services, youth environmental action, youth environmental leaders, youth environmental movement, youth health outcomes, youth homelessness, youth in crisis, youth in nature, youth interventions, youth leaders, youth leadership, youth mental health, youth mentors, youth mentorship, youth of color, youth opportunities unlimited, youth organizations, youth outdoor programs, youth outdoor recreation, youth outdoors, Youth Outside, youth outside, youth programming, youth programs, youth reading, youth recreation, youth recreation outcomes, youth resilience, youth seen, youth sports, youth swimming, youth trauma, youth voice, youth voices, youth well-being, youth wellbeing, youth wellness, youth with disabilities, youth writing, youthtruth, ywca, zuni pueblo, zuni youth enrichment project ]]> Gardeneers Connects Kids with Nature and Community https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/gardeneers-connects-kids-with-nature-and-community/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 EST https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/gardeneers-connects-kids-with-nature-and-community/
A student smiles while digging her hands in the dirt

Kids learn a lot about the world from their everyday surroundings. This is why it is critical to bring nature-based experiences to the spaces kids visit regularly, in addition to creating opportunities to kids to

A Most Beautiful Thing, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, ABC Park, access to food, access to greenspace, access to nature, access to outdoors, accessibility, accessible storytelling, action agenda, active kids, adolescence, adolescent pressures, adolescent recreation, adolescent wellbeing, adventure recreation, advisory council, afterschool programming, afterschool programs, agents of change, agricultural economies, agricultural education, agricultural literacy, agritourism, Air Alliance Houston, air pollution, alabama, albuquerque, Alex Bailey, altruism, american camp association, american hiking society, american teenagers, antarctic tourism, antiracism in the outdoors, arizona, Arshay Cooper, arts education, Asheville, aspen institute, athletic surfaces, Atiya Wells, Atlanta, Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Youth Rugby, Atlanta Youth Tennis, audubon texas, ayana elizabeth johnson, backyard basecamp, Backyard Basecamp, Bakeyah Nelson, baltimore woods nature center, barriers to access, barriers to recreation, basketball, Bearings Bike Shop, belongingness, benefits of recreation, beyond the ball, Beyond the Game, bicycle ride across georgia, big brothers big sisters, bikepacking, biodiversity, biological anthropologist, bipoc youth, bipoc youth programming, bird identification, birds in my neighborhood, black history month, black kid adventures, black kids adventures, Black outdoor recreation, black outside, Black Outside, Bloom Project, Blue Sky Funders Forum, blue sky funders forum, boatbuilding, Bob Crawford, boys & girls clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, brain development, bronx river, brothers on the rise, brower youth award, brown girls climb, brushwood center at ryerson woods, buffalo harvest, burnout, Caitlin Reilly, california, california schoolyard forest system, camp counselors, camp fire, camper education, Camping & Education Foundation, Camping to Connect, canoe camping, canopy coverage, capacity building, carbon sink, career exploration, career path, casel social emotional learning standards, catamount institute, center for american progress, center for digital thriving, center for effective philanthropy, center for healing and justice through sport, center for native american youth, center for recreation education arts technology and enterprise, center of southwest culture, CETA Foundation, challenge, challenge course, charles crenshaw, Charles E. Hartsoe Fellow, Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, charles roundtree bloom project, cheyenne, chicago, Chicago CRED, Children & Nature Network, children & nature network, children and nature network, children's forest of central oregon, children's screen time action network, chill foundation, cincinnati, citizen science, City Kids Wilderness Project, city planning, City Sailors, civic empowerment project, civic engagement, CJ Goulding, classroom resources, climate action, climate anxiety, Climate Change, climate change, climate change mitigation, climate impacts, climate joy, climate justice, climate mental health network, climate mitigation, climate movement, climate solutions, coach training, cold weather fun, collaboration, collective action, collective resistance, College of Natural Resources, communal learning, communication, communications strategy, communities of care, community action, community building, community connection, community engagement, community film festivals, community learning, community level environmental literacy, community mentorship, community nature connection, community organization, community organizations, community partners, community programming, community schools, community violence, community water safety, community wellbeing, competitive jump rope, connecticut institute for communities, connection to nature, connection to place, conservation behavior, Conservation Leadership, conservation science partners, cooking with kids, cool learning experience, cornell lab of ornithology, coronavirus, courage ranch, CourtBuilders, COVID safety, COVID-19, covid-19, Cranbrook, Crawford Prize, crawford prize, CREATE, crew, cultivating community, cultural connection, cultureseed, dam removal, Darryl Taylor, data analysis, Davidson College, Day of Sport, debt-ceiling crisis, decision making, decolonization, deficit thinking, deforestation, DEI outdoors, demographic data, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Derwin Hannah, Detroit, detroit horse power, developmental outcomes, digital tools, diné we can, disabled hikers, displacement, diversity education, diversity equity and inclusion, diversity in nature, diversity in the outdoors, diversity outdoors, documentary filmmaking, dr. teresa horton, drowning, duke marine lab community science initiative, eagle eye institute, early adulthood, early childhood, earth day, earth day with kids, east st louis, eastern sierra conservation corps, eco-anxiety, eco-chaplains, Eco-Health, ecoanxiety, ecological resilience, eden place nature center, effective communication, effective narratives, efficacy, elevate youth, Elliott Donnelley Youth Center, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Emerson Collective, empathy, English Avenue, EnviroAtlas, environment, environmental action, Environmental Activism, environmental activism, environmental advocacy, environmental affinity, environmental change, environmental crisis, environmental degradation, environmental education, Environmental Education, environmental ethic, environmental filmmaking, environmental funding, environmental future, environmental hope, environmental jobs, environmental justice, environmental leaders, environmental leadership, environmental learning for kids, environmental literacy, environmental movement, environmental science for kids, environmental sector, environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, environmentalism for kids, EPA, equine-assisted therapy, equine-based programming, equitable access, equitable learning, equity, equity in funding, equity in the outdoors, equity outdoors, ethical storytelling, evaluation, evaluation methods, evaluation starter kit, evaluation support, evaluation with youth, every kid outdoors, evolutionary and ecological approaches to health and development program, experiential education, experiential learning, exploratory learning, exploratory STEM, explore austin, explore fund, extracurricular activities, extracurricular programs, extreme heat, eye health, Families in Nature, families outside, family camping, family fun, family holidays, family recreation, family relationships, Family Time, family-based programming, farmers markets, female athlete, Fernando Lloveras, Finding Nature, flint river watershed coalition, food forests, food justice, food literacy, food production, food security, food system, food systems, forest bathing, forest therapy, fort robinson outbreak spiritual run, foster care, fresh tracks, funding, funding opportunity, Gang Rescue and Refinement Passages, gardeneers, gardening, Gary Hall, gear libraries, gender exploration, gender inclusivity, generational indigenous ways, Georgia FIRST Robotics, get into nature, Get into nature, get outside, girl scouts, girls in STEM, girls on the run, girls outdoors, girlventures, global forest watch, gloria barron prize for young heroes, grant applications, grant opportunity, grantee cohort, grantee cohorts, Grantee Highlight, grantee resources, grantee spotlight, grantee support, grantmaking, grants, greater newark conservancy, green camps, green design, green infrastructure, green jobs, green schoolyard movement, green schoolyards, green schoolyards america, greenhouse effect, greening youth foundation, greenspace, greenspace access, group cohesion, group experiences, gtg outdoors, gulf gathering for climate justice and joy, gut health, hands and hearts for horses, hands on activities, hands on learning, Hartsoe Fellow, harvard graduate school of education, hattie carthan, healing through nature, health, health and wellbeing, health benefits of nature, healthier communities, healthy competition, healthy eating, healthy families, healthy kids, healthy living, healthy relationships, heat mitigation, heat safety, Heather Kuhlken, heatwavces, heptathalon, heritage trails partnership of the Mississippi gulf coast, higher education, hip hop for change, hiring, hispanic access foundation, hispanic americans, hispanic heritage month, history of camps, holistic grantmaking, holistic philanthropy, holistic support, holistic youth development, Horizons-Upward Bound, horseback riding, how to save a planet, Howard University, human health disparities, hurricane helene, identity development, identity exploration, illinois, IMC Charities, immune function, impact grants, inclusion, inclusion outdoors, inclusive camps, inclusive environments, inclusive practices, inclusivity in recreation, inclusivity outdoors, incubator program, indiana university lily family school of philanthropy, indigenous communities, Indigenous Leaders, indigenous leaders, indigenous leadership, indigenous led programs, indigenous philanthropy, indigenous youth, Indigenous youth, indigenous youth programming, informal learning sector, infrastructure funding, inspiring action, integrated resource networks, intergenerational connections, intergenerational learning, intergenerational programming, Intergenerational Programming, intergenerational recreation, IPCC report, jackie joyner-kersee, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, jackie joyner-kersee foundation, job boards, john francis, John McCarter, Jose Gonzalez, josé gonzález, jose gonzalez, jubilee consortium, jubilee jump, Julia Lankford, justice outside, juvenile justice system, k-12 education, k-12 teachers, Karen Stewart-Ramos, keep kids safe, Khary Lazarre-White, khmer community of seattle king county, khmer cultural practices, kids health, kids in nature, kids in summer, kids outdoors, Kids Outside, kids outside, Kim Moore Bailey, Ki’Amber Thompson, klamath river, lakota, lakota summer science field institute, land grant mission, laru beya collective, Last Child in the Woods, latino conservation week, Latino Outdoors, latino outdoors, latinos progresando, latinx identity, Laureus, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Lawrence Hall of Science, LBC Action, leadership at camp, leadership development, learn to sail, Lee Storey, LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ outdoor summit, lgbtq+ spaces, LGBTQ+ youth, lgbtq+ youth, life skills, Lila Leff, lincoln senior high school, local agriculture, local food, local food systems, local greenspace, local trails, localogy, long distance cycling, loop nola, los angeles, lower brule wildlife, Mandela, Manny Almonte, marine debris, marine science, Martin LeBlanc, Mastermind Connect, matthew henson, measuring success, mental health, mental health awareness month, mental health care, mental health crisis, mental health resources, mental health support, mentorship, Mercedes Benz, message testing, middle childhood, million coaches challenge, minneapolis, monarch butterfly, monocultures, Montreat College, mountain dreamers, mountain sports, move mountains, movement education outdoors, Muddy Sneakers, museum of the rockies, music in schools, music teachers, Myron Floyd, myron floyd, Nadja West, narrative hub, national academies of sciences engineering and medicine, national audubon society, National Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation and Park Association Forecasts, National Recreation Foundation, national recreation foundation, national trails day, national water safety action plan, national water safety month, Native American Heritage Month, native americans in philanthropy, native like water, natural disaster response, nature, nature access, Nature Books, Nature Community, nature culture and human health network, nature deficit disorder, nature deprivation, nature education, nature exploration, nature gap report, nature observation, nature photography, nature play, nature writing, Nature, Culture and Human Health Network, nature-based learning, nc state environmental education lab, NC State University, nc state university, nearby nature, neurodivergent youth, new birders, new england association of schools and colleges, new england science and sailing foundation, new hire, new mexico, new york city, newcomer youth, next generation science standards, Nike, non-profit organizations, nonprofit funding, nonprofit sector, nonprofit storytelling, North Carolina, north carolina, North Carolina State University, north carolina state university, Northwestern University, northwestern university, NRF, nrf advisory council, nrf grantees, nrf trustee, NRPA, nuestra tierra conservation project, okc latina, openlands, operations associate, oregon state university extension, organizational support, organizational update, Our Wild Calling, out of school time, out there adventures, out-of-school-time, outdoor access, Outdoor Access, outdoor activity, outdoor adventure, outdoor afro, outdoor alliance for kids, outdoor careers, outdoor community, outdoor education, outdoor equity, outdoor foundation, outdoor funders, outdoor grants, outdoor inclusion coalition, outdoor industry, outdoor industry association, outdoor leadership, outdoor learning, outdoor outreach, outdoor participation trends report, outdoor play, outdoor recreation, outdoor recreation grants, outdoor recreation participation, outdoor research, outdoor science education, outdoorist oath, outdoors, outdoors empowered network, Outdoors for All, outside with kids, outward bound adventures, outward bound canada, overnight camps, Pace Center for Girls, paddle tribal waters, paddleboarding, pandemic, pandemic kids, pandemic mental health, pandemic wellbeing, pandemic with kids, Para La Naturaleza, para la naturaleza, paradox climbing, park access, park activities, parks in focus, participant evaluation, participatory evaluation, PATH, pattie gonia, peer mentorship, personal resilience, Peter Westbrook, philanthropic funding, philanthropic sector, philanthropy, physical activity, physical health, pine ridge tree planting, place attachment, Place based learning, place-based learning, planet walkers, plant identification, player development, pollinators, portland, positive coaching alliance, positive youth development, Power Game+, power of the outdoors, president's environmental youth award, pride month, pride outside, Pritzker, program capacity, program design, program evaluation, program expansion, program goals, public lands, public schools, public space, puerto rico, queer mountain quest, queer nature, racial equity, REACH, Reading with Kids, ready set resilience, reciprocal philanthropy, reconnect to the land, recreation, recreation access, recreation philanthropy, recreation research, recreation safety, recreational programming, recreaton research, red cloud renewable, reforestation, refugee communities, refugee education and adventure challenge, report, research bias, research findings, research translation, resilient communities, responsible growth, Rethink Outside, rethink outside, Rethink Outside Fellowship, Richard Louv, richard louv, ríos to rivers, rippleffect, risk and resilience, risk management, river newe, river restoration, river sports, robert taylor, rocking the boat, rosario dawson, rowing, rue mapp, Ryan Zwart, sailing, SailMaine, San Antonio, Sarah Milligan-Toffler, saved by nature, school budget cuts, school farms, school gardens, school partnerships, science learning, science literacy, scientific observation, scientific research, scistarter, screen time, seasonal eating, self awareness, self care, self confidence, self-care, sense of place, service opportunities, shade access, shannon danks, she jumps, SheJumps, shelter-in-place, shinrin-yoku, shoshone-bannock, shred foundation, sicangu co, sicangu health initiative, sicangu lakota nation, Siebert Williams Shank, sierra club, skin health, skin protection, SNAP, Sneaky Science, Soccer in the Streets, social change, social emotional learning, social good, social media, social-emotional learning, soliciting donations, Sophie Twichell, sos outreach, soul track outdoors, soul trak, Soul Trak Outdoors, Special Grants, special grants, Spike Lobdell, sport based youth development, Sport Court, Sport for Good, staff spotlight, staff training, state of global air, STEM gender gap, STEM learning, story riders, storytelling, stress, summer camp, summer camps, summer fun, summer jobs, summer learning loss, summer produce, summer recreation, summer with kids, summertime, sun safety, sunscreen, supportive adults, survey research, Susan Teegen, sustainability, sustainability activities, swim education, swim lessons, swim safety, swimming, talking to kids, tankproof, Teach-A-Child to Fish, teacher collaboration, teacher support, teachers, teamwork, technology, teen stress, teresa baker, Teresa H Horton, test audiences, thanksgiving, the north face, the semilla project, the trauma foundation, the trevor project, therapy for kids, Tim Richardson, time in nature, time outside, tom's of maine, Tom's of Maine, tom's of maine incubator, toms of maine, Tony Mobley, track and field, trail building, trans and non-binary youth, trauma epidemic, trauma recovery, trauma-informed practices, tree canopy coverage, tree cover, tree cover loss, tree maintenance, tree planting, tree street youth, trekkers, trends in philanthropy, tribal communities, Trust for public lands, trust-based philanthropy, trustee, Trustee Grants, trustee grants, TSL Law Group, turner foundation, Tyrhee Moore, tyrhee moore, ucla, udall foundation, Umoja, Umoja Student Development Corporation, united nations development program, university of michigan, unrestricted funding, urban adventure squad, urban agriculture, urban farm, urban farming, urban flooding, urban forest, urban forestry, urban greenspace, urban nature, urban tree planting, urban wilderness program, us fish and wildlife service, usa swimming, usa swimming learn to swim grants, venture out project, Vine City, Virtual Training Camp, wallace foundation, warren washington, washington dc, Washington Park, water competency, water recreation, water safety, water sports, waterfront access, watershed conservation, watersmith guild, well-being practices, wellfit girls, western national parks association, western pennsylvania, Westside, whitewater paddling, wild diversity, wild earth wilderness school, wilderness inquiry, wildseed gear library, winning in life, winter outdoor activities, Winter Reading, women's sports, Wood Hood, working bikes, working with kids, wyn wiley, yellow bird life ways, yes nature to neighborhoods, Young Masterminds Initiative, young men of color, young people outdoors, youth, youth action, youth activism, youth activists, youth advocacy, youth athletes, youth awards, youth birders, youth burnout, youth civic action, youth climate action, youth climate activism, youth climate movement, youth coaches, youth coaching, youth cycling, youth decision making, youth development, youth engagement, youth enrichment services, youth environmental action, youth environmental leaders, youth environmental movement, youth health outcomes, youth homelessness, youth in crisis, youth in nature, youth interventions, youth leaders, youth leadership, youth mental health, youth mentors, youth mentorship, youth of color, youth opportunities unlimited, youth organizations, youth outdoor programs, youth outdoor recreation, youth outdoors, Youth Outside, youth outside, youth programming, youth programs, youth reading, youth recreation, youth recreation outcomes, youth resilience, youth seen, youth sports, youth swimming, youth trauma, youth voice, youth voices, youth well-being, youth wellbeing, youth wellness, youth with disabilities, youth writing, youthtruth, ywca, zuni pueblo, zuni youth enrichment project ]]> Children & Nature Network Advocates for Green Schoolyards https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/children-and-nature-network-advocates-for-green-schoolyards/ Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EST https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/children-and-nature-network-advocates-for-green-schoolyards/
a school garden has raised beds and is filled with kids

Natural spaces come in all shapes and sizes, from national parks and wilderness areas to backyards and local greenways. It’s important to invest in conservation projects across this spectrum. Both the Yosemite Valley

A Most Beautiful Thing, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, ABC Park, access to food, access to greenspace, access to nature, access to outdoors, accessibility, accessible storytelling, action agenda, active kids, adolescence, adolescent pressures, adolescent recreation, adolescent wellbeing, adventure recreation, advisory council, afterschool programming, afterschool programs, agents of change, agricultural economies, agricultural education, agricultural literacy, agritourism, Air Alliance Houston, air pollution, alabama, albuquerque, Alex Bailey, altruism, american camp association, american hiking society, american teenagers, antarctic tourism, antiracism in the outdoors, arizona, Arshay Cooper, arts education, Asheville, aspen institute, athletic surfaces, Atiya Wells, Atlanta, Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Youth Rugby, Atlanta Youth Tennis, audubon texas, ayana elizabeth johnson, backyard basecamp, Backyard Basecamp, Bakeyah Nelson, baltimore woods nature center, barriers to access, barriers to recreation, basketball, Bearings Bike Shop, belongingness, benefits of recreation, beyond the ball, Beyond the Game, bicycle ride across georgia, big brothers big sisters, bikepacking, biodiversity, biological anthropologist, bipoc youth, bipoc youth programming, bird identification, birds in my neighborhood, black history month, black kid adventures, black kids adventures, Black outdoor recreation, black outside, Black Outside, Bloom Project, Blue Sky Funders Forum, blue sky funders forum, boatbuilding, Bob Crawford, boys & girls clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, brain development, bronx river, brothers on the rise, brower youth award, brown girls climb, brushwood center at ryerson woods, buffalo harvest, burnout, Caitlin Reilly, california, california schoolyard forest system, camp counselors, camp fire, camper education, Camping & Education Foundation, Camping to Connect, canoe camping, canopy coverage, capacity building, carbon sink, career exploration, career path, casel social emotional learning standards, catamount institute, center for american progress, center for digital thriving, center for effective philanthropy, center for healing and justice through sport, center for native american youth, center for recreation education arts technology and enterprise, center of southwest culture, CETA Foundation, challenge, challenge course, charles crenshaw, Charles E. Hartsoe Fellow, Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, charles roundtree bloom project, cheyenne, chicago, Chicago CRED, Children & Nature Network, children & nature network, children and nature network, children's forest of central oregon, children's screen time action network, chill foundation, cincinnati, citizen science, City Kids Wilderness Project, city planning, City Sailors, civic empowerment project, civic engagement, CJ Goulding, classroom resources, climate action, climate anxiety, Climate Change, climate change, climate change mitigation, climate impacts, climate joy, climate justice, climate mental health network, climate mitigation, climate movement, climate solutions, coach training, cold weather fun, collaboration, collective action, collective resistance, College of Natural Resources, communal learning, communication, communications strategy, communities of care, community action, community building, community connection, community engagement, community film festivals, community learning, community level environmental literacy, community mentorship, community nature connection, community organization, community organizations, community partners, community programming, community schools, community violence, community water safety, community wellbeing, competitive jump rope, connecticut institute for communities, connection to nature, connection to place, conservation behavior, Conservation Leadership, conservation science partners, cooking with kids, cool learning experience, cornell lab of ornithology, coronavirus, courage ranch, CourtBuilders, COVID safety, COVID-19, covid-19, Cranbrook, Crawford Prize, crawford prize, CREATE, crew, cultivating community, cultural connection, cultureseed, dam removal, Darryl Taylor, data analysis, Davidson College, Day of Sport, debt-ceiling crisis, decision making, decolonization, deficit thinking, deforestation, DEI outdoors, demographic data, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Derwin Hannah, Detroit, detroit horse power, developmental outcomes, digital tools, diné we can, disabled hikers, displacement, diversity education, diversity equity and inclusion, diversity in nature, diversity in the outdoors, diversity outdoors, documentary filmmaking, dr. teresa horton, drowning, duke marine lab community science initiative, eagle eye institute, early adulthood, early childhood, earth day, earth day with kids, east st louis, eastern sierra conservation corps, eco-anxiety, eco-chaplains, Eco-Health, ecoanxiety, ecological resilience, eden place nature center, effective communication, effective narratives, efficacy, elevate youth, Elliott Donnelley Youth Center, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Emerson Collective, empathy, English Avenue, EnviroAtlas, environment, environmental action, Environmental Activism, environmental activism, environmental advocacy, environmental affinity, environmental change, environmental crisis, environmental degradation, environmental education, Environmental Education, environmental ethic, environmental filmmaking, environmental funding, environmental future, environmental hope, environmental jobs, environmental justice, environmental leaders, environmental leadership, environmental learning for kids, environmental literacy, environmental movement, environmental science for kids, environmental sector, environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, environmentalism for kids, EPA, equine-assisted therapy, equine-based programming, equitable access, equitable learning, equity, equity in funding, equity in the outdoors, equity outdoors, ethical storytelling, evaluation, evaluation methods, evaluation starter kit, evaluation support, evaluation with youth, every kid outdoors, evolutionary and ecological approaches to health and development program, experiential education, experiential learning, exploratory learning, exploratory STEM, explore austin, explore fund, extracurricular activities, extracurricular programs, extreme heat, eye health, Families in Nature, families outside, family camping, family fun, family holidays, family recreation, family relationships, Family Time, family-based programming, farmers markets, female athlete, Fernando Lloveras, Finding Nature, flint river watershed coalition, food forests, food justice, food literacy, food production, food security, food system, food systems, forest bathing, forest therapy, fort robinson outbreak spiritual run, foster care, fresh tracks, funding, funding opportunity, Gang Rescue and Refinement Passages, gardeneers, gardening, Gary Hall, gear libraries, gender exploration, gender inclusivity, generational indigenous ways, Georgia FIRST Robotics, get into nature, Get into nature, get outside, girl scouts, girls in STEM, girls on the run, girls outdoors, girlventures, global forest watch, gloria barron prize for young heroes, grant applications, grant opportunity, grantee cohort, grantee cohorts, Grantee Highlight, grantee resources, grantee spotlight, grantee support, grantmaking, grants, greater newark conservancy, green camps, green design, green infrastructure, green jobs, green schoolyard movement, green schoolyards, green schoolyards america, greenhouse effect, greening youth foundation, greenspace, greenspace access, group cohesion, group experiences, gtg outdoors, gulf gathering for climate justice and joy, gut health, hands and hearts for horses, hands on activities, hands on learning, Hartsoe Fellow, harvard graduate school of education, hattie carthan, healing through nature, health, health and wellbeing, health benefits of nature, healthier communities, healthy competition, healthy eating, healthy families, healthy kids, healthy living, healthy relationships, heat mitigation, heat safety, Heather Kuhlken, heatwavces, heptathalon, heritage trails partnership of the Mississippi gulf coast, higher education, hip hop for change, hiring, hispanic access foundation, hispanic americans, hispanic heritage month, history of camps, holistic grantmaking, holistic philanthropy, holistic support, holistic youth development, Horizons-Upward Bound, horseback riding, how to save a planet, Howard University, human health disparities, hurricane helene, identity development, identity exploration, illinois, IMC Charities, immune function, impact grants, inclusion, inclusion outdoors, inclusive camps, inclusive environments, inclusive practices, inclusivity in recreation, inclusivity outdoors, incubator program, indiana university lily family school of philanthropy, indigenous communities, Indigenous Leaders, indigenous leaders, indigenous leadership, indigenous led programs, indigenous philanthropy, indigenous youth, Indigenous youth, indigenous youth programming, informal learning sector, infrastructure funding, inspiring action, integrated resource networks, intergenerational connections, intergenerational learning, intergenerational programming, Intergenerational Programming, intergenerational recreation, IPCC report, jackie joyner-kersee, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, jackie joyner-kersee foundation, job boards, john francis, John McCarter, Jose Gonzalez, josé gonzález, jose gonzalez, jubilee consortium, jubilee jump, Julia Lankford, justice outside, juvenile justice system, k-12 education, k-12 teachers, Karen Stewart-Ramos, keep kids safe, Khary Lazarre-White, khmer community of seattle king county, khmer cultural practices, kids health, kids in nature, kids in summer, kids outdoors, Kids Outside, kids outside, Kim Moore Bailey, Ki’Amber Thompson, klamath river, lakota, lakota summer science field institute, land grant mission, laru beya collective, Last Child in the Woods, latino conservation week, Latino Outdoors, latino outdoors, latinos progresando, latinx identity, Laureus, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Lawrence Hall of Science, LBC Action, leadership at camp, leadership development, learn to sail, Lee Storey, LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ outdoor summit, lgbtq+ spaces, LGBTQ+ youth, lgbtq+ youth, life skills, Lila Leff, lincoln senior high school, local agriculture, local food, local food systems, local greenspace, local trails, localogy, long distance cycling, loop nola, los angeles, lower brule wildlife, Mandela, Manny Almonte, marine debris, marine science, Martin LeBlanc, Mastermind Connect, matthew henson, measuring success, mental health, mental health awareness month, mental health care, mental health crisis, mental health resources, mental health support, mentorship, Mercedes Benz, message testing, middle childhood, million coaches challenge, minneapolis, monarch butterfly, monocultures, Montreat College, mountain dreamers, mountain sports, move mountains, movement education outdoors, Muddy Sneakers, museum of the rockies, music in schools, music teachers, Myron Floyd, myron floyd, Nadja West, narrative hub, national academies of sciences engineering and medicine, national audubon society, National Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation and Park Association Forecasts, National Recreation Foundation, national recreation foundation, national trails day, national water safety action plan, national water safety month, Native American Heritage Month, native americans in philanthropy, native like water, natural disaster response, nature, nature access, Nature Books, Nature Community, nature culture and human health network, nature deficit disorder, nature deprivation, nature education, nature exploration, nature gap report, nature observation, nature photography, nature play, nature writing, Nature, Culture and Human Health Network, nature-based learning, nc state environmental education lab, NC State University, nc state university, nearby nature, neurodivergent youth, new birders, new england association of schools and colleges, new england science and sailing foundation, new hire, new mexico, new york city, newcomer youth, next generation science standards, Nike, non-profit organizations, nonprofit funding, nonprofit sector, nonprofit storytelling, North Carolina, north carolina, North Carolina State University, north carolina state university, Northwestern University, northwestern university, NRF, nrf advisory council, nrf grantees, nrf trustee, NRPA, nuestra tierra conservation project, okc latina, openlands, operations associate, oregon state university extension, organizational support, organizational update, Our Wild Calling, out of school time, out there adventures, out-of-school-time, outdoor access, Outdoor Access, outdoor activity, outdoor adventure, outdoor afro, outdoor alliance for kids, outdoor careers, outdoor community, outdoor education, outdoor equity, outdoor foundation, outdoor funders, outdoor grants, outdoor inclusion coalition, outdoor industry, outdoor industry association, outdoor leadership, outdoor learning, outdoor outreach, outdoor participation trends report, outdoor play, outdoor recreation, outdoor recreation grants, outdoor recreation participation, outdoor research, outdoor science education, outdoorist oath, outdoors, outdoors empowered network, Outdoors for All, outside with kids, outward bound adventures, outward bound canada, overnight camps, Pace Center for Girls, paddle tribal waters, paddleboarding, pandemic, pandemic kids, pandemic mental health, pandemic wellbeing, pandemic with kids, Para La Naturaleza, para la naturaleza, paradox climbing, park access, park activities, parks in focus, participant evaluation, participatory evaluation, PATH, pattie gonia, peer mentorship, personal resilience, Peter Westbrook, philanthropic funding, philanthropic sector, philanthropy, physical activity, physical health, pine ridge tree planting, place attachment, Place based learning, place-based learning, planet walkers, plant identification, player development, pollinators, portland, positive coaching alliance, positive youth development, Power Game+, power of the outdoors, president's environmental youth award, pride month, pride outside, Pritzker, program capacity, program design, program evaluation, program expansion, program goals, public lands, public schools, public space, puerto rico, queer mountain quest, queer nature, racial equity, REACH, Reading with Kids, ready set resilience, reciprocal philanthropy, reconnect to the land, recreation, recreation access, recreation philanthropy, recreation research, recreation safety, recreational programming, recreaton research, red cloud renewable, reforestation, refugee communities, refugee education and adventure challenge, report, research bias, research findings, research translation, resilient communities, responsible growth, Rethink Outside, rethink outside, Rethink Outside Fellowship, Richard Louv, richard louv, ríos to rivers, rippleffect, risk and resilience, risk management, river newe, river restoration, river sports, robert taylor, rocking the boat, rosario dawson, rowing, rue mapp, Ryan Zwart, sailing, SailMaine, San Antonio, Sarah Milligan-Toffler, saved by nature, school budget cuts, school farms, school gardens, school partnerships, science learning, science literacy, scientific observation, scientific research, scistarter, screen time, seasonal eating, self awareness, self care, self confidence, self-care, sense of place, service opportunities, shade access, shannon danks, she jumps, SheJumps, shelter-in-place, shinrin-yoku, shoshone-bannock, shred foundation, sicangu co, sicangu health initiative, sicangu lakota nation, Siebert Williams Shank, sierra club, skin health, skin protection, SNAP, Sneaky Science, Soccer in the Streets, social change, social emotional learning, social good, social media, social-emotional learning, soliciting donations, Sophie Twichell, sos outreach, soul track outdoors, soul trak, Soul Trak Outdoors, Special Grants, special grants, Spike Lobdell, sport based youth development, Sport Court, Sport for Good, staff spotlight, staff training, state of global air, STEM gender gap, STEM learning, story riders, storytelling, stress, summer camp, summer camps, summer fun, summer jobs, summer learning loss, summer produce, summer recreation, summer with kids, summertime, sun safety, sunscreen, supportive adults, survey research, Susan Teegen, sustainability, sustainability activities, swim education, swim lessons, swim safety, swimming, talking to kids, tankproof, Teach-A-Child to Fish, teacher collaboration, teacher support, teachers, teamwork, technology, teen stress, teresa baker, Teresa H Horton, test audiences, thanksgiving, the north face, the semilla project, the trauma foundation, the trevor project, therapy for kids, Tim Richardson, time in nature, time outside, tom's of maine, Tom's of Maine, tom's of maine incubator, toms of maine, Tony Mobley, track and field, trail building, trans and non-binary youth, trauma epidemic, trauma recovery, trauma-informed practices, tree canopy coverage, tree cover, tree cover loss, tree maintenance, tree planting, tree street youth, trekkers, trends in philanthropy, tribal communities, Trust for public lands, trust-based philanthropy, trustee, Trustee Grants, trustee grants, TSL Law Group, turner foundation, Tyrhee Moore, tyrhee moore, ucla, udall foundation, Umoja, Umoja Student Development Corporation, united nations development program, university of michigan, unrestricted funding, urban adventure squad, urban agriculture, urban farm, urban farming, urban flooding, urban forest, urban forestry, urban greenspace, urban nature, urban tree planting, urban wilderness program, us fish and wildlife service, usa swimming, usa swimming learn to swim grants, venture out project, Vine City, Virtual Training Camp, wallace foundation, warren washington, washington dc, Washington Park, water competency, water recreation, water safety, water sports, waterfront access, watershed conservation, watersmith guild, well-being practices, wellfit girls, western national parks association, western pennsylvania, Westside, whitewater paddling, wild diversity, wild earth wilderness school, wilderness inquiry, wildseed gear library, winning in life, winter outdoor activities, Winter Reading, women's sports, Wood Hood, working bikes, working with kids, wyn wiley, yellow bird life ways, yes nature to neighborhoods, Young Masterminds Initiative, young men of color, young people outdoors, youth, youth action, youth activism, youth activists, youth advocacy, youth athletes, youth awards, youth birders, youth burnout, youth civic action, youth climate action, youth climate activism, youth climate movement, youth coaches, youth coaching, youth cycling, youth decision making, youth development, youth engagement, youth enrichment services, youth environmental action, youth environmental leaders, youth environmental movement, youth health outcomes, youth homelessness, youth in crisis, youth in nature, youth interventions, youth leaders, youth leadership, youth mental health, youth mentors, youth mentorship, youth of color, youth opportunities unlimited, youth organizations, youth outdoor programs, youth outdoor recreation, youth outdoors, Youth Outside, youth outside, youth programming, youth programs, youth reading, youth recreation, youth recreation outcomes, youth resilience, youth seen, youth sports, youth swimming, youth trauma, youth voice, youth voices, youth well-being, youth wellbeing, youth wellness, youth with disabilities, youth writing, youthtruth, ywca, zuni pueblo, zuni youth enrichment project ]]> New Insights Highlight Effective Messaging About Nature https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/new-insights-highlight-effective-messaging-about-nature/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EST https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/new-insights-highlight-effective-messaging-about-nature/
A person stands at the front of a group speaking into a microphone

How we talk about what we do matters. The work of connecting kids to nature and helping them find joy in the outdoors is inherently valuable, but being able to do that work often relies on convincing funders, community

A Most Beautiful Thing, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, ABC Park, access to food, access to greenspace, access to nature, access to outdoors, accessibility, accessible storytelling, action agenda, active kids, adolescence, adolescent pressures, adolescent recreation, adolescent wellbeing, adventure recreation, advisory council, afterschool programming, afterschool programs, agents of change, agricultural economies, agricultural education, agricultural literacy, agritourism, Air Alliance Houston, air pollution, alabama, albuquerque, Alex Bailey, altruism, american camp association, american hiking society, american teenagers, antarctic tourism, antiracism in the outdoors, arizona, Arshay Cooper, arts education, Asheville, aspen institute, athletic surfaces, Atiya Wells, Atlanta, Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Youth Rugby, Atlanta Youth Tennis, audubon texas, ayana elizabeth johnson, backyard basecamp, Backyard Basecamp, Bakeyah Nelson, baltimore woods nature center, barriers to access, barriers to recreation, basketball, Bearings Bike Shop, belongingness, benefits of recreation, beyond the ball, Beyond the Game, bicycle ride across georgia, big brothers big sisters, bikepacking, biodiversity, biological anthropologist, bipoc youth, bipoc youth programming, bird identification, birds in my neighborhood, black history month, black kid adventures, black kids adventures, Black outdoor recreation, black outside, Black Outside, Bloom Project, Blue Sky Funders Forum, blue sky funders forum, boatbuilding, Bob Crawford, boys & girls clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, brain development, bronx river, brothers on the rise, brower youth award, brown girls climb, brushwood center at ryerson woods, buffalo harvest, burnout, Caitlin Reilly, california, california schoolyard forest system, camp counselors, camp fire, camper education, Camping & Education Foundation, Camping to Connect, canoe camping, canopy coverage, capacity building, carbon sink, career exploration, career path, casel social emotional learning standards, catamount institute, center for american progress, center for digital thriving, center for effective philanthropy, center for healing and justice through sport, center for native american youth, center for recreation education arts technology and enterprise, center of southwest culture, CETA Foundation, challenge, challenge course, charles crenshaw, Charles E. Hartsoe Fellow, Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, charles roundtree bloom project, cheyenne, chicago, Chicago CRED, Children & Nature Network, children & nature network, children and nature network, children's forest of central oregon, children's screen time action network, chill foundation, cincinnati, citizen science, City Kids Wilderness Project, city planning, City Sailors, civic empowerment project, civic engagement, CJ Goulding, classroom resources, climate action, climate anxiety, Climate Change, climate change, climate change mitigation, climate impacts, climate joy, climate justice, climate mental health network, climate mitigation, climate movement, climate solutions, coach training, cold weather fun, collaboration, collective action, collective resistance, College of Natural Resources, communal learning, communication, communications strategy, communities of care, community action, community building, community connection, community engagement, community film festivals, community learning, community level environmental literacy, community mentorship, community nature connection, community organization, community organizations, community partners, community programming, community schools, community violence, community water safety, community wellbeing, competitive jump rope, connecticut institute for communities, connection to nature, connection to place, conservation behavior, Conservation Leadership, conservation science partners, cooking with kids, cool learning experience, cornell lab of ornithology, coronavirus, courage ranch, CourtBuilders, COVID safety, COVID-19, covid-19, Cranbrook, Crawford Prize, crawford prize, CREATE, crew, cultivating community, cultural connection, cultureseed, dam removal, Darryl Taylor, data analysis, Davidson College, Day of Sport, debt-ceiling crisis, decision making, decolonization, deficit thinking, deforestation, DEI outdoors, demographic data, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Derwin Hannah, Detroit, detroit horse power, developmental outcomes, digital tools, diné we can, disabled hikers, displacement, diversity education, diversity equity and inclusion, diversity in nature, diversity in the outdoors, diversity outdoors, documentary filmmaking, dr. teresa horton, drowning, duke marine lab community science initiative, eagle eye institute, early adulthood, early childhood, earth day, earth day with kids, east st louis, eastern sierra conservation corps, eco-anxiety, eco-chaplains, Eco-Health, ecoanxiety, ecological resilience, eden place nature center, effective communication, effective narratives, efficacy, elevate youth, Elliott Donnelley Youth Center, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Emerson Collective, empathy, English Avenue, EnviroAtlas, environment, environmental action, Environmental Activism, environmental activism, environmental advocacy, environmental affinity, environmental change, environmental crisis, environmental degradation, environmental education, Environmental Education, environmental ethic, environmental filmmaking, environmental funding, environmental future, environmental hope, environmental jobs, environmental justice, environmental leaders, environmental leadership, environmental learning for kids, environmental literacy, environmental movement, environmental science for kids, environmental sector, environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, environmentalism for kids, EPA, equine-assisted therapy, equine-based programming, equitable access, equitable learning, equity, equity in funding, equity in the outdoors, equity outdoors, ethical storytelling, evaluation, evaluation methods, evaluation starter kit, evaluation support, evaluation with youth, every kid outdoors, evolutionary and ecological approaches to health and development program, experiential education, experiential learning, exploratory learning, exploratory STEM, explore austin, explore fund, extracurricular activities, extracurricular programs, extreme heat, eye health, Families in Nature, families outside, family camping, family fun, family holidays, family recreation, family relationships, Family Time, family-based programming, farmers markets, female athlete, Fernando Lloveras, Finding Nature, flint river watershed coalition, food forests, food justice, food literacy, food production, food security, food system, food systems, forest bathing, forest therapy, fort robinson outbreak spiritual run, foster care, fresh tracks, funding, funding opportunity, Gang Rescue and Refinement Passages, gardeneers, gardening, Gary Hall, gear libraries, gender exploration, gender inclusivity, generational indigenous ways, Georgia FIRST Robotics, get into nature, Get into nature, get outside, girl scouts, girls in STEM, girls on the run, girls outdoors, girlventures, global forest watch, gloria barron prize for young heroes, grant applications, grant opportunity, grantee cohort, grantee cohorts, Grantee Highlight, grantee resources, grantee spotlight, grantee support, grantmaking, grants, greater newark conservancy, green camps, green design, green infrastructure, green jobs, green schoolyard movement, green schoolyards, green schoolyards america, greenhouse effect, greening youth foundation, greenspace, greenspace access, group cohesion, group experiences, gtg outdoors, gulf gathering for climate justice and joy, gut health, hands and hearts for horses, hands on activities, hands on learning, Hartsoe Fellow, harvard graduate school of education, hattie carthan, healing through nature, health, health and wellbeing, health benefits of nature, healthier communities, healthy competition, healthy eating, healthy families, healthy kids, healthy living, healthy relationships, heat mitigation, heat safety, Heather Kuhlken, heatwavces, heptathalon, heritage trails partnership of the Mississippi gulf coast, higher education, hip hop for change, hiring, hispanic access foundation, hispanic americans, hispanic heritage month, history of camps, holistic grantmaking, holistic philanthropy, holistic support, holistic youth development, Horizons-Upward Bound, horseback riding, how to save a planet, Howard University, human health disparities, hurricane helene, identity development, identity exploration, illinois, IMC Charities, immune function, impact grants, inclusion, inclusion outdoors, inclusive camps, inclusive environments, inclusive practices, inclusivity in recreation, inclusivity outdoors, incubator program, indiana university lily family school of philanthropy, indigenous communities, Indigenous Leaders, indigenous leaders, indigenous leadership, indigenous led programs, indigenous philanthropy, indigenous youth, Indigenous youth, indigenous youth programming, informal learning sector, infrastructure funding, inspiring action, integrated resource networks, intergenerational connections, intergenerational learning, intergenerational programming, Intergenerational Programming, intergenerational recreation, IPCC report, jackie joyner-kersee, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, jackie joyner-kersee foundation, job boards, john francis, John McCarter, Jose Gonzalez, josé gonzález, jose gonzalez, jubilee consortium, jubilee jump, Julia Lankford, justice outside, juvenile justice system, k-12 education, k-12 teachers, Karen Stewart-Ramos, keep kids safe, Khary Lazarre-White, khmer community of seattle king county, khmer cultural practices, kids health, kids in nature, kids in summer, kids outdoors, Kids Outside, kids outside, Kim Moore Bailey, Ki’Amber Thompson, klamath river, lakota, lakota summer science field institute, land grant mission, laru beya collective, Last Child in the Woods, latino conservation week, Latino Outdoors, latino outdoors, latinos progresando, latinx identity, Laureus, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Lawrence Hall of Science, LBC Action, leadership at camp, leadership development, learn to sail, Lee Storey, LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ outdoor summit, lgbtq+ spaces, LGBTQ+ youth, lgbtq+ youth, life skills, Lila Leff, lincoln senior high school, local agriculture, local food, local food systems, local greenspace, local trails, localogy, long distance cycling, loop nola, los angeles, lower brule wildlife, Mandela, Manny Almonte, marine debris, marine science, Martin LeBlanc, Mastermind Connect, matthew henson, measuring success, mental health, mental health awareness month, mental health care, mental health crisis, mental health resources, mental health support, mentorship, Mercedes Benz, message testing, middle childhood, million coaches challenge, minneapolis, monarch butterfly, monocultures, Montreat College, mountain dreamers, mountain sports, move mountains, movement education outdoors, Muddy Sneakers, museum of the rockies, music in schools, music teachers, Myron Floyd, myron floyd, Nadja West, narrative hub, national academies of sciences engineering and medicine, national audubon society, National Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation and Park Association Forecasts, National Recreation Foundation, national recreation foundation, national trails day, national water safety action plan, national water safety month, Native American Heritage Month, native americans in philanthropy, native like water, natural disaster response, nature, nature access, Nature Books, Nature Community, nature culture and human health network, nature deficit disorder, nature deprivation, nature education, nature exploration, nature gap report, nature observation, nature photography, nature play, nature writing, Nature, Culture and Human Health Network, nature-based learning, nc state environmental education lab, NC State University, nc state university, nearby nature, neurodivergent youth, new birders, new england association of schools and colleges, new england science and sailing foundation, new hire, new mexico, new york city, newcomer youth, next generation science standards, Nike, non-profit organizations, nonprofit funding, nonprofit sector, nonprofit storytelling, North Carolina, north carolina, North Carolina State University, north carolina state university, Northwestern University, northwestern university, NRF, nrf advisory council, nrf grantees, nrf trustee, NRPA, nuestra tierra conservation project, okc latina, openlands, operations associate, oregon state university extension, organizational support, organizational update, Our Wild Calling, out of school time, out there adventures, out-of-school-time, outdoor access, Outdoor Access, outdoor activity, outdoor adventure, outdoor afro, outdoor alliance for kids, outdoor careers, outdoor community, outdoor education, outdoor equity, outdoor foundation, outdoor funders, outdoor grants, outdoor inclusion coalition, outdoor industry, outdoor industry association, outdoor leadership, outdoor learning, outdoor outreach, outdoor participation trends report, outdoor play, outdoor recreation, outdoor 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sailing, SailMaine, San Antonio, Sarah Milligan-Toffler, saved by nature, school budget cuts, school farms, school gardens, school partnerships, science learning, science literacy, scientific observation, scientific research, scistarter, screen time, seasonal eating, self awareness, self care, self confidence, self-care, sense of place, service opportunities, shade access, shannon danks, she jumps, SheJumps, shelter-in-place, shinrin-yoku, shoshone-bannock, shred foundation, sicangu co, sicangu health initiative, sicangu lakota nation, Siebert Williams Shank, sierra club, skin health, skin protection, SNAP, Sneaky Science, Soccer in the Streets, social change, social emotional learning, social good, social media, social-emotional learning, soliciting donations, Sophie Twichell, sos outreach, soul track outdoors, soul trak, Soul Trak Outdoors, Special Grants, special grants, Spike Lobdell, sport based youth development, Sport Court, Sport for Good, staff spotlight, staff training, state of global air, STEM gender gap, STEM learning, story riders, storytelling, stress, summer camp, summer camps, summer fun, summer jobs, summer learning loss, summer produce, summer recreation, summer with kids, summertime, sun safety, sunscreen, supportive adults, survey research, Susan Teegen, sustainability, sustainability activities, swim education, swim lessons, swim safety, swimming, talking to kids, tankproof, Teach-A-Child to Fish, teacher collaboration, teacher support, teachers, teamwork, technology, teen stress, teresa baker, Teresa H Horton, test audiences, thanksgiving, the north face, the semilla project, the trauma foundation, the trevor project, therapy for kids, Tim Richardson, time in nature, time outside, tom's of maine, Tom's of Maine, tom's of maine incubator, toms of maine, Tony Mobley, track and field, trail building, trans and non-binary youth, trauma epidemic, trauma recovery, trauma-informed practices, tree canopy coverage, tree cover, tree cover loss, tree maintenance, tree planting, tree street youth, trekkers, trends in philanthropy, tribal communities, Trust for public lands, trust-based philanthropy, trustee, Trustee Grants, trustee grants, TSL Law Group, turner foundation, Tyrhee Moore, tyrhee moore, ucla, udall foundation, Umoja, Umoja Student Development Corporation, united nations development program, university of michigan, unrestricted funding, urban adventure squad, urban agriculture, urban farm, urban farming, urban flooding, urban forest, urban forestry, urban greenspace, urban nature, urban tree planting, urban wilderness program, us fish and wildlife service, usa swimming, usa swimming learn to swim grants, venture out project, Vine City, Virtual Training Camp, wallace foundation, warren washington, washington dc, Washington Park, water competency, water recreation, water safety, water sports, waterfront access, watershed conservation, watersmith guild, well-being practices, wellfit girls, western national parks association, western pennsylvania, Westside, whitewater paddling, wild diversity, wild earth wilderness school, wilderness inquiry, wildseed gear library, winning in life, winter outdoor activities, Winter Reading, women's sports, Wood Hood, working bikes, working with kids, wyn wiley, yellow bird life ways, yes nature to neighborhoods, Young Masterminds Initiative, young men of color, young people outdoors, youth, youth action, youth activism, youth activists, youth advocacy, youth athletes, youth awards, youth birders, youth burnout, youth civic action, youth climate action, youth climate activism, youth climate movement, youth coaches, youth coaching, youth cycling, youth decision making, youth development, youth engagement, youth enrichment services, youth environmental action, youth environmental leaders, youth environmental movement, youth health outcomes, youth homelessness, youth in crisis, youth in nature, youth interventions, youth leaders, youth leadership, youth mental health, youth mentors, youth mentorship, youth of color, youth opportunities unlimited, youth organizations, youth outdoor programs, youth outdoor recreation, youth outdoors, Youth Outside, youth outside, youth programming, youth programs, youth reading, youth recreation, youth recreation outcomes, youth resilience, youth seen, youth sports, youth swimming, youth trauma, youth voice, youth voices, youth well-being, youth wellbeing, youth wellness, youth with disabilities, youth writing, youthtruth, ywca, zuni pueblo, zuni youth enrichment project ]]> The Camping & Education Foundation Expands Its Impact https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/the-camping-and-education-foundation-expands-its-impact/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 EST https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/the-camping-and-education-foundation-expands-its-impact/
a group of kids build a canoe outdoors

The Camping & Education Foundation received its first grant from NRF in 2018. At that time, the Foundation had been in operation for almost 100 years offering immersive summer camp experiences to generations of kids in

A Most Beautiful Thing, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, ABC Park, access to food, access to greenspace, access to nature, access to outdoors, accessibility, accessible storytelling, action agenda, active kids, adolescence, adolescent pressures, adolescent recreation, adolescent wellbeing, adventure recreation, advisory council, afterschool programming, afterschool programs, agents of change, agricultural economies, agricultural education, agricultural literacy, agritourism, Air Alliance Houston, air pollution, alabama, albuquerque, Alex Bailey, altruism, american camp association, american hiking society, american teenagers, antarctic tourism, antiracism in the outdoors, arizona, Arshay Cooper, arts education, Asheville, aspen institute, athletic surfaces, Atiya Wells, Atlanta, Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Youth Rugby, Atlanta Youth Tennis, audubon texas, ayana elizabeth johnson, backyard basecamp, Backyard Basecamp, Bakeyah Nelson, baltimore woods nature center, barriers to access, barriers to recreation, basketball, Bearings Bike Shop, belongingness, benefits of recreation, beyond the ball, Beyond the Game, bicycle ride across georgia, big brothers big sisters, bikepacking, biodiversity, biological anthropologist, bipoc youth, bipoc youth programming, bird identification, birds in my neighborhood, black history month, black kid adventures, black kids adventures, Black outdoor recreation, black outside, Black Outside, Bloom Project, Blue Sky Funders Forum, blue sky funders forum, boatbuilding, Bob Crawford, boys & girls clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, brain development, bronx river, brothers on the rise, brower youth award, brown girls climb, brushwood center at ryerson woods, buffalo harvest, burnout, Caitlin Reilly, california, california schoolyard forest system, camp counselors, camp fire, camper education, Camping & Education Foundation, Camping to Connect, canoe camping, canopy coverage, capacity building, carbon sink, career exploration, career path, casel social emotional learning standards, catamount institute, center for american progress, center for digital thriving, center for effective philanthropy, center for healing and justice through sport, center for native american youth, center for recreation education arts technology and enterprise, center of southwest culture, CETA Foundation, challenge, challenge course, charles crenshaw, Charles E. Hartsoe Fellow, Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, charles roundtree bloom project, cheyenne, chicago, Chicago CRED, Children & Nature Network, children & nature network, children and nature network, children's forest of central oregon, children's screen time action network, chill foundation, cincinnati, citizen science, City Kids Wilderness Project, city planning, City Sailors, civic empowerment project, civic engagement, CJ Goulding, classroom resources, climate action, climate anxiety, Climate Change, climate change, climate change mitigation, climate impacts, climate joy, climate justice, climate mental health network, climate mitigation, climate movement, climate solutions, coach training, cold weather fun, collaboration, collective action, collective resistance, College of Natural Resources, communal learning, communication, communications strategy, communities of care, community action, community building, community connection, community engagement, community film festivals, community learning, community level environmental literacy, community mentorship, community nature connection, community organization, community organizations, community partners, community programming, community schools, community violence, community water safety, community wellbeing, competitive jump rope, connecticut institute for communities, connection to nature, connection to place, conservation behavior, Conservation Leadership, conservation science partners, cooking with kids, cool learning experience, cornell lab of ornithology, coronavirus, courage ranch, CourtBuilders, COVID safety, COVID-19, covid-19, Cranbrook, Crawford Prize, crawford prize, CREATE, crew, cultivating community, cultural connection, cultureseed, dam removal, Darryl Taylor, data analysis, Davidson College, Day of Sport, debt-ceiling crisis, decision making, decolonization, deficit thinking, deforestation, DEI outdoors, demographic data, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Derwin Hannah, Detroit, detroit horse power, developmental outcomes, digital tools, diné we can, disabled hikers, displacement, diversity education, diversity equity and inclusion, diversity in nature, diversity in the outdoors, diversity outdoors, documentary filmmaking, dr. teresa horton, drowning, duke marine lab community science initiative, eagle eye institute, early adulthood, early childhood, earth day, earth day with kids, east st louis, eastern sierra conservation corps, eco-anxiety, eco-chaplains, Eco-Health, ecoanxiety, ecological resilience, eden place nature center, effective communication, effective narratives, efficacy, elevate youth, Elliott Donnelley Youth Center, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Emerson Collective, empathy, English Avenue, EnviroAtlas, environment, environmental action, Environmental Activism, environmental activism, environmental advocacy, environmental affinity, environmental change, environmental crisis, environmental degradation, environmental education, Environmental Education, environmental ethic, environmental filmmaking, environmental funding, environmental future, environmental hope, environmental jobs, environmental justice, environmental leaders, environmental leadership, environmental learning for kids, environmental literacy, environmental movement, environmental science for kids, environmental sector, environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, environmentalism for kids, EPA, equine-assisted therapy, equine-based programming, equitable access, equitable learning, equity, equity in funding, equity in the outdoors, equity outdoors, ethical storytelling, evaluation, evaluation methods, evaluation starter kit, evaluation support, evaluation with youth, every kid outdoors, evolutionary and ecological approaches to health and development program, experiential education, experiential learning, exploratory learning, exploratory STEM, explore austin, explore fund, extracurricular activities, extracurricular programs, extreme heat, eye health, Families in Nature, families outside, family camping, family fun, family holidays, family recreation, family relationships, Family Time, family-based programming, farmers markets, female athlete, Fernando Lloveras, Finding Nature, flint river watershed coalition, food forests, food justice, food literacy, food production, food security, food system, food systems, forest bathing, forest therapy, fort robinson outbreak spiritual run, foster care, fresh tracks, funding, funding opportunity, Gang Rescue and Refinement Passages, gardeneers, gardening, Gary Hall, gear libraries, gender exploration, gender inclusivity, generational indigenous ways, Georgia FIRST Robotics, get into nature, Get into nature, get outside, girl scouts, girls in STEM, girls on the run, girls outdoors, girlventures, global forest watch, gloria barron prize for young heroes, grant applications, grant opportunity, grantee cohort, grantee cohorts, Grantee Highlight, grantee resources, grantee spotlight, grantee support, grantmaking, grants, greater newark conservancy, green camps, green design, green infrastructure, green jobs, green schoolyard movement, green schoolyards, green schoolyards america, greenhouse effect, greening youth foundation, greenspace, greenspace access, group cohesion, group experiences, gtg outdoors, gulf gathering for climate justice and joy, gut health, hands and hearts for horses, hands on activities, hands on learning, Hartsoe Fellow, harvard graduate school of education, hattie carthan, healing through nature, health, health and wellbeing, health benefits of nature, healthier communities, healthy competition, healthy eating, healthy families, healthy kids, healthy living, healthy relationships, heat mitigation, heat safety, Heather Kuhlken, heatwavces, heptathalon, heritage trails partnership of the Mississippi gulf coast, higher education, hip hop for change, hiring, hispanic access 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community, LGBTQ+ outdoor summit, lgbtq+ spaces, LGBTQ+ youth, lgbtq+ youth, life skills, Lila Leff, lincoln senior high school, local agriculture, local food, local food systems, local greenspace, local trails, localogy, long distance cycling, loop nola, los angeles, lower brule wildlife, Mandela, Manny Almonte, marine debris, marine science, Martin LeBlanc, Mastermind Connect, matthew henson, measuring success, mental health, mental health awareness month, mental health care, mental health crisis, mental health resources, mental health support, mentorship, Mercedes Benz, message testing, middle childhood, million coaches challenge, minneapolis, monarch butterfly, monocultures, Montreat College, mountain dreamers, mountain sports, move mountains, movement education outdoors, Muddy Sneakers, museum of the rockies, music in schools, music teachers, Myron Floyd, myron floyd, Nadja West, narrative hub, national academies of sciences engineering and medicine, national audubon society, National Recreation and Park Association, National Recreation and Park Association Forecasts, National Recreation Foundation, national recreation foundation, national trails day, national water safety action plan, national water safety month, Native American Heritage Month, native americans in philanthropy, native like water, natural disaster response, nature, nature access, Nature Books, Nature Community, nature culture and human health network, nature deficit disorder, nature deprivation, nature education, nature exploration, nature gap report, nature observation, nature photography, nature play, nature writing, Nature, Culture and Human Health Network, nature-based learning, nc state environmental education lab, NC State University, nc state university, nearby nature, neurodivergent youth, new birders, new england association of schools and colleges, new england science and sailing foundation, new hire, new mexico, new york city, newcomer youth, next generation science standards, Nike, non-profit organizations, nonprofit funding, nonprofit sector, nonprofit storytelling, North Carolina, north carolina, North Carolina State University, north carolina state university, Northwestern University, northwestern university, NRF, nrf advisory council, nrf grantees, nrf trustee, NRPA, nuestra tierra conservation project, okc latina, openlands, operations associate, oregon state university extension, organizational support, organizational update, Our Wild Calling, out of school time, out there adventures, out-of-school-time, outdoor access, Outdoor Access, outdoor activity, outdoor adventure, outdoor afro, outdoor alliance for kids, outdoor careers, outdoor community, outdoor education, outdoor equity, outdoor foundation, outdoor funders, outdoor grants, outdoor inclusion coalition, outdoor industry, outdoor industry association, outdoor leadership, outdoor learning, outdoor outreach, outdoor participation trends report, outdoor play, outdoor recreation, outdoor recreation grants, outdoor recreation participation, outdoor research, outdoor science education, outdoorist oath, outdoors, outdoors empowered network, Outdoors for All, outside with kids, outward bound adventures, outward bound canada, overnight camps, Pace Center for Girls, paddle tribal waters, paddleboarding, pandemic, pandemic kids, pandemic mental health, pandemic wellbeing, pandemic with kids, Para La Naturaleza, para la naturaleza, paradox climbing, park access, park activities, parks in focus, participant evaluation, participatory evaluation, PATH, pattie gonia, peer mentorship, personal resilience, Peter Westbrook, philanthropic funding, philanthropic sector, philanthropy, physical activity, physical health, pine ridge tree planting, place attachment, Place based learning, place-based learning, planet walkers, plant identification, player development, pollinators, portland, positive coaching alliance, positive youth development, Power Game+, power of the outdoors, president's environmental youth award, pride month, pride outside, Pritzker, program capacity, program design, program evaluation, program expansion, program goals, public lands, public schools, public space, puerto rico, queer mountain quest, queer nature, racial equity, REACH, Reading with Kids, ready set resilience, reciprocal philanthropy, reconnect to the land, recreation, recreation access, recreation philanthropy, recreation research, recreation safety, recreational programming, recreaton research, red cloud renewable, reforestation, refugee communities, refugee education and adventure challenge, report, research bias, research findings, research translation, resilient communities, responsible growth, Rethink Outside, rethink outside, Rethink Outside Fellowship, Richard Louv, richard louv, ríos to rivers, rippleffect, risk and resilience, risk management, river newe, river restoration, river sports, robert taylor, rocking the boat, rosario dawson, rowing, rue mapp, Ryan Zwart, sailing, SailMaine, San Antonio, Sarah Milligan-Toffler, saved by nature, school budget cuts, school farms, school gardens, school partnerships, science learning, science literacy, scientific observation, scientific research, scistarter, screen time, seasonal eating, self awareness, self care, self confidence, self-care, sense of place, service opportunities, shade access, shannon danks, she jumps, SheJumps, shelter-in-place, shinrin-yoku, shoshone-bannock, shred foundation, sicangu co, sicangu health initiative, sicangu lakota nation, Siebert Williams Shank, sierra club, skin health, skin protection, SNAP, Sneaky Science, Soccer in the Streets, social change, social emotional learning, social good, social media, social-emotional learning, soliciting donations, Sophie Twichell, sos outreach, soul track outdoors, soul trak, Soul Trak Outdoors, Special Grants, special grants, Spike Lobdell, sport based youth development, Sport Court, Sport for Good, staff spotlight, staff training, state of global air, STEM gender gap, STEM learning, story riders, storytelling, stress, summer camp, summer camps, summer fun, summer jobs, summer learning loss, summer produce, summer recreation, summer with kids, summertime, sun safety, sunscreen, supportive adults, survey research, Susan Teegen, sustainability, sustainability activities, swim education, swim lessons, swim safety, swimming, talking to kids, tankproof, Teach-A-Child to Fish, teacher collaboration, teacher support, teachers, teamwork, technology, teen stress, teresa baker, Teresa H Horton, test audiences, thanksgiving, the north face, the semilla project, the trauma foundation, the trevor project, therapy for kids, Tim Richardson, time in nature, time outside, tom's of maine, Tom's of Maine, tom's of maine incubator, toms of maine, Tony Mobley, track and field, trail building, trans and non-binary youth, trauma epidemic, trauma recovery, trauma-informed practices, tree canopy coverage, tree cover, tree cover loss, tree maintenance, tree planting, tree street youth, trekkers, trends in philanthropy, tribal communities, Trust for public lands, trust-based philanthropy, trustee, Trustee Grants, trustee grants, TSL Law Group, turner foundation, Tyrhee Moore, tyrhee moore, ucla, udall foundation, Umoja, Umoja Student Development Corporation, united nations development program, university of michigan, unrestricted funding, urban adventure squad, urban agriculture, urban farm, urban farming, urban flooding, urban forest, urban forestry, urban greenspace, urban nature, urban tree planting, urban wilderness program, us fish and wildlife service, usa swimming, usa swimming learn to swim grants, venture out project, Vine City, Virtual Training Camp, wallace foundation, warren washington, washington dc, Washington Park, water competency, water recreation, water safety, water sports, waterfront access, watershed conservation, watersmith guild, well-being practices, wellfit girls, western national parks association, western pennsylvania, Westside, whitewater paddling, wild diversity, wild earth wilderness school, wilderness inquiry, wildseed gear library, winning in life, winter outdoor activities, Winter Reading, women's sports, Wood Hood, working bikes, working with kids, wyn wiley, yellow bird life ways, yes nature to neighborhoods, Young Masterminds Initiative, young men of color, young people outdoors, youth, youth action, youth activism, youth activists, youth advocacy, youth athletes, youth awards, youth birders, youth burnout, youth civic action, youth climate action, youth climate activism, youth climate movement, youth coaches, youth coaching, youth cycling, youth decision making, youth development, youth engagement, youth enrichment services, youth environmental action, youth environmental leaders, youth environmental movement, youth health outcomes, youth homelessness, youth in crisis, youth in nature, youth interventions, youth leaders, youth leadership, youth mental health, youth mentors, youth mentorship, youth of color, youth opportunities unlimited, youth organizations, youth outdoor programs, youth outdoor recreation, youth outdoors, Youth Outside, youth outside, youth programming, youth programs, youth reading, youth recreation, youth recreation outcomes, youth resilience, youth seen, youth sports, youth swimming, youth trauma, youth voice, youth voices, youth well-being, youth wellbeing, youth wellness, youth with disabilities, youth writing, youthtruth, ywca, zuni pueblo, zuni youth enrichment project ]]> Adolescents & Burnout https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/adolescents-and-burnout/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 EST https://www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org/blog/adolescents-and-burnout/
Students sit at desks in a classroom

Many people look back on their teen years as a time of extremes. Lots of things feel heightened during adolescence, from day-to-day emotions and the intensity of friendships to frustrations at school and shifting family

A Most Beautiful Thing, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, ABC Park, access to food, access to greenspace, access to nature, access to outdoors, accessibility, accessible storytelling, action agenda, active kids, adolescence, adolescent pressures, adolescent recreation, adolescent wellbeing, adventure recreation, advisory council, afterschool programming, afterschool programs, agents of change, agricultural economies, agricultural education, agricultural literacy, agritourism, Air Alliance Houston, air pollution, alabama, albuquerque, Alex Bailey, altruism, american camp association, american hiking society, american teenagers, antarctic tourism, antiracism in the outdoors, arizona, Arshay Cooper, arts education, Asheville, aspen institute, athletic surfaces, Atiya Wells, Atlanta, Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Youth Rugby, Atlanta Youth Tennis, audubon texas, ayana elizabeth johnson, backyard basecamp, Backyard Basecamp, Bakeyah Nelson, baltimore woods nature center, barriers to access, barriers to recreation, basketball, Bearings Bike Shop, belongingness, benefits of recreation, beyond the ball, Beyond the Game, bicycle ride across georgia, big brothers big sisters, bikepacking, biodiversity, biological anthropologist, bipoc youth, bipoc youth programming, bird identification, birds in my neighborhood, black history month, black kid adventures, black kids adventures, Black outdoor recreation, black outside, Black Outside, Bloom Project, Blue Sky Funders Forum, blue sky funders forum, boatbuilding, Bob Crawford, boys & girls clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, brain development, bronx river, brothers on the rise, brower youth award, brown girls climb, brushwood center at ryerson woods, buffalo harvest, burnout, Caitlin Reilly, california, california schoolyard forest system, camp counselors, camp fire, camper education, Camping & Education Foundation, Camping to Connect, canoe camping, canopy coverage, capacity building, carbon sink, career exploration, career path, casel social emotional learning standards, catamount institute, center for american progress, center for digital thriving, center for effective philanthropy, center for healing and justice through sport, center for native american youth, center for recreation education arts technology and enterprise, center of southwest culture, CETA Foundation, challenge, challenge course, charles crenshaw, Charles E. Hartsoe Fellow, Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, charles roundtree bloom project, cheyenne, chicago, Chicago CRED, Children & Nature Network, children & nature network, children and nature network, children's forest of central oregon, children's screen time action network, chill foundation, cincinnati, citizen science, City Kids Wilderness Project, city planning, City Sailors, civic empowerment project, civic engagement, CJ Goulding, classroom resources, climate action, climate anxiety, Climate Change, climate change, climate change mitigation, climate impacts, climate joy, climate justice, climate mental health network, climate mitigation, climate movement, climate solutions, coach training, cold weather fun, collaboration, collective action, collective resistance, College of Natural Resources, communal learning, communication, communications strategy, communities of care, community action, community building, community connection, community engagement, community film festivals, community learning, community level environmental literacy, community mentorship, community nature connection, community organization, community organizations, community partners, community programming, community schools, community violence, community water safety, community wellbeing, competitive jump rope, connecticut institute for communities, connection to nature, connection to place, conservation behavior, Conservation Leadership, conservation science partners, cooking with kids, cool learning experience, cornell lab of ornithology, coronavirus, courage ranch, CourtBuilders, COVID safety, COVID-19, covid-19, Cranbrook, Crawford Prize, crawford prize, CREATE, crew, cultivating community, cultural connection, cultureseed, dam removal, Darryl Taylor, data analysis, Davidson College, Day of Sport, debt-ceiling crisis, decision making, decolonization, deficit thinking, deforestation, DEI outdoors, demographic data, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Derwin Hannah, Detroit, detroit horse power, developmental outcomes, digital tools, diné we can, disabled hikers, displacement, diversity education, diversity equity and inclusion, diversity in nature, diversity in the outdoors, diversity outdoors, documentary filmmaking, dr. teresa horton, drowning, duke marine lab community science initiative, eagle eye institute, early adulthood, early childhood, earth day, earth day with kids, east st louis, eastern sierra conservation corps, eco-anxiety, eco-chaplains, Eco-Health, ecoanxiety, ecological resilience, eden place nature center, effective communication, effective narratives, efficacy, elevate youth, Elliott Donnelley Youth Center, Elsie McCabe Thompson, Emerson Collective, empathy, English Avenue, EnviroAtlas, environment, environmental action, Environmental Activism, environmental activism, environmental advocacy, environmental affinity, environmental change, environmental crisis, environmental degradation, environmental education, Environmental Education, environmental ethic, environmental filmmaking, environmental funding, environmental future, environmental hope, environmental jobs, environmental justice, environmental leaders, environmental leadership, environmental learning for kids, environmental literacy, environmental movement, environmental science for kids, environmental sector, environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, environmentalism for kids, EPA, equine-assisted therapy, equine-based programming, equitable access, equitable learning, equity, equity in funding, equity in the outdoors, equity outdoors, ethical storytelling, evaluation, evaluation methods, evaluation starter kit, evaluation support, evaluation with youth, every kid outdoors, evolutionary and ecological approaches to health and development program, experiential education, experiential learning, exploratory learning, exploratory STEM, explore austin, explore fund, extracurricular activities, extracurricular programs, extreme heat, eye health, Families in Nature, families outside, family camping, family fun, family holidays, family recreation, family relationships, Family Time, family-based programming, farmers markets, female athlete, Fernando Lloveras, Finding Nature, flint river watershed coalition, food forests, food justice, food literacy, food production, food security, food system, food systems, forest bathing, forest therapy, fort robinson outbreak spiritual run, foster care, fresh tracks, funding, funding opportunity, Gang Rescue and Refinement Passages, gardeneers, gardening, Gary Hall, gear libraries, gender exploration, gender inclusivity, generational indigenous ways, Georgia FIRST Robotics, get into nature, Get into nature, get outside, girl scouts, girls in STEM, girls on the run, girls outdoors, girlventures, global forest watch, gloria barron prize for young heroes, grant applications, grant opportunity, grantee cohort, grantee cohorts, Grantee Highlight, grantee resources, grantee spotlight, grantee support, grantmaking, grants, greater newark conservancy, green camps, green design, green infrastructure, green jobs, green schoolyard movement, green schoolyards, green schoolyards america, greenhouse effect, greening youth foundation, greenspace, greenspace access, group cohesion, group experiences, gtg outdoors, gulf gathering for climate justice and joy, gut health, hands and hearts for horses, hands on activities, hands on learning, Hartsoe Fellow, harvard graduate school of education, hattie carthan, healing through nature, health, health and wellbeing, health benefits of nature, healthier communities, healthy competition, healthy eating, healthy families, healthy kids, healthy living, healthy relationships, heat mitigation, heat safety, Heather Kuhlken, heatwavces, heptathalon, heritage trails partnership of the Mississippi gulf coast, higher education, hip hop for change, hiring, hispanic access 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