Members of the Outdoor Education Advisory Working Group at the Atlanta Vision Lab Roz Brooks of Blacks in Nature, Carrie McGill of Douglas High School, and Kendal Scott of the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation.
The Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation announced its selection for the Nature Everywhere initiative, a national program aimed at expanding equitable access to nature for children throughout the state.
This initiative, organized by the Children & Nature Network in collaboration with the National League of Cities and KABOOM!, will foster a deeper connection between its youth and the outdoors.
The Nature Everywhere program is designed to create meaningful change in 100 communities across the United States by 2025. Through a competitive application process, 19 communities, including the Silver State, have been chosen to receive two years of strategic planning, technical support and start-up funding to develop and implement community-driven plans that prioritize nature-based experiences and learning for children and families.
The Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation has been tasked with leading the effort to integrate outdoor education and recreation seamlessly into the PreK-12 public education system across the state. The Division aims to leverage its participation in the Nature Everywhere Initiative to amplify the impact of the Outdoor Education Advisory Working Group, guide statewide policies, and catalyze large-scale efforts supporting community connections to the outdoors.
“Thanks to our selection for the Nature Everywhere initiative, Nevada has a unique opportunity to make the outdoors a regular part of children’s lives through schools,” said Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Education Lead Kendal Scott. “We are excited to be a part of this work as the first state selected for the initiative. The resources and expertise provided by the Nature Everywhere community will position Nevada as a leader in providing access to outdoor recreation for all.”
As a first step, the Division of Outdoor Recreation and partners from the Outdoor Education Advisory Working Group joined eight other communities for a Nature Everywhere Vision Lab in Atlanta, Ga. to explore proven nature-connection strategies and connect with technical assistance experts.
For more information about the Nature Everywhere initiative, visit childrenandnature.org/nature-everywhere, read this national news release, and/or contact Laura Mylan, Children & Nature Network, laura@childrenandnature.org.
