Youth-Led Network Bridges Gaps
By improving connections between Maine’s students and the natural world, the Nature Based Education Consortium (NBEC) builds a healthier future.
Stories
Youth Education Offers Healing and Hope
Everyone faces stress and setbacks in life but living in a healthy environment within a strong community can make it easier to cope and thrive.
Welcoming and Developing New Leaders
Using the power of nature, YES Nature to Neighborhoods helps youth and families live healthy and connected lives.
Their Ancestors’ Wildest Dream: A Weekend with Camping to Connect
Camping to Connect brings young Black and Brown teens outside to the “Wood Hood” for mentorship and community.
The Right to Eat Brussels Sprouts Early and Often
Learning in the garden in California’s Pajaro Valley informs a national effort to strengthen communities.
The Power of Knowledge-Sharing
The origin story of Kuaʻāina Ulu ‘Auamo (KUA), and how it connects communities as they protect, restore and care for their place in the world.
The Places That Shape Us
In this story, Kasandra shares about the everyday places that have been a source of solace for her and how those have shifted through life circumstances.
The Healing, Transformative, and Rehabilitative Effects of Nature via Gardening
Written by a formerly incarcerated man, this story highlights the healing, transformation, and freedom ignited by nature.
Teen Leaders Build a Healthier Community
Access to the outdoors and the building of a healthy community can change everything.
Teacher Helps School Become Health Ambassador
One teacher’s gardening enthusiasm jump-started community health.
These resources
help you rethink outside.
Explore ideas and insights from across the field that can help shift our shared narrative about nature and what becomes possible when everyone belongs outside.
Narrative and Storytelling
Tools and insights for strengthening communications and creating lasting change through story. Learn why narrative matters to grantmaking and how to invest in narrative power for the long term.
Health & Wellbeing
How time in nature can support health and wellbeing throughout our lives, from childhood development to healthy aging.
Climate & Community Resilience
Strong relationships with nature and place can help communities respond to our changing climate and build resilience for the future.
Making the Case for Nature
Evidence and messaging that demonstrate why nature connection matters and help build broader support for this work.
Advocacy & Philanthropic Action
Approaches to strengthening advocacy and investing in the capacity needed to make meaningful nature connection possible.
Equity, Access & Environmental Justice
Insights into the barriers to nature connection and community-led approaches to creating more equitable access and belonging.
Research, Evidence & Evaluation
Research and evaluation approaches that deepen our understanding of nature connection and help assess the impact of related investments.