Visit from Children & Nature Network national partners increases momentum of our work: a visit summary

The Lower Columbia Nature Network strives to reduce barriers for southwest Washington youth to access nature. One of the ways we are approaching this work is through our partnership with the Children and Nature Network and National League of Cities - Cities Connecting Children to Nature project. Over the last several months we’ve been working with them on activating our community to create more opportunities for kids to get outside, specifically in their school environment.

In September our colleagues from the National League of Cities and Children and Nature Network were in town. We engaged in robust discussions with various levels of leadership including a meeting with the mayor and mayor pro-tem, another meeting with city staff and convened a kick-off meeting with around 20 participants for the Green Schoolyards Steering Committee. Our hope is that this work will begin to bridge the gap so all students can experience the physical and emotional benefits of nature.

Below is a summary of our meetings:

SUMMARY from meeting with City of Vancouver Mayor’s office:

• Raise awareness and cross-communicate about nature connection benefits, including Green Schoolyards
  City leadership will look for opportunities to raise awareness of connecting to nature for children and families, using resources from partners. Include language in conversations and look for opportunities to increase health and wellness in nature with safe and welcoming access for all.

• Work with existing community partners to increase opportunities for accessible nature
  Connect with partners throughout the community to look for opportunities to implement installation of Green Schoolyards, programming with schools and stewardship of joint properties. Include neighborhoods, youth-oriented groups, community school focused partners and others to build on existing successes, identify gaps in services and opportunities to create more access to nature.

• City leadership can join National League of Cities leadership at upcoming conferences
  Meet other city leaders and partners to learn about goals and actions to build a stronger community using tools like Green Schoolyards and other nature connection programs.

• Build relationships with local school district leaders

  There is new leadership in several regional school districts including Superintendents, School Board Directors and top-level administration. This project can initiate conversations about the mutual goals of improving health, academic success and community well-being with school partners. Utilize existing City team efforts to support school success, such as Recreation summer camp programs, Urban Forestry tree plantings, Volunteer stewardship, etc.

SUMMARY from meeting with City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department:

• Build relationships with local School District leaders
  There is new leadership in several regional school districts including Superintendents, School Board Directors and top-level administration. This project can initiate conversations about the mutual goals of improving health, academic success and community well-being with school partners. Similar to the discussion with the mayor’s office, this could be an opportunity to re-engage conversations with district staff to update understandings, mutual goals and future opportunities to create efficiencies and meet the broader community needs.

• Multiple divisions of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services are community partnerships with schools - build on successes
  Evaluate existing programs and partnerships, identify what is working well, where are efficiencies to be gained and where are opportunities to grow to meet expanding needs. A review was done several years ago, so new conversations can update mutual goals, objectives and any changes in policies that affect programs. Discussed how to increase capacity for more schools/city programming.

• Shared land & feature opportunities to best serve the neighborhood communities
  City Parks and Natural Areas, as well as many school properties, provide local (10-minute walk) to nature for many neighborhoods. Identify where shared resources can better serve and how to fund those resources. Update Joint Use Agreements with new language to meet current and forecasted goals and objectives. Land is a finite resource for both agencies, how to maximize benefits. Increase opportunities for improved environmental goals to include more nature through tree plantings and naturescaping of native plants for habitat and benefits.

• Activate programs to engage communities and meet needs

  City programs can work on school campuses and in school buildings to help meet community needs for out of school care, recreational programming, stewardship and community building. Update joint policies to maximize partnerships based on evaluation of needs for the neighborhoods served, such as summer camp programming, youth sports, community education classes and school grounds stewardship. Include evaluation of funding needs and seek additional partners to increase access to more schools.

SUMMARY from meeting with Cities Connecting Children to Nature’s LCNN Steering Committee:

• Leveraging momentum to engage leadership across city and districts - how do we build on momentum of city and school district leadership?

  • Identify leadership - who are the leaders to bring together for conversations and goal setting, including administration, school board members, teachers, students, families and community members who all feel welcome to contribute

  • Community goals / actions - identify mutual goals and benefits for city and schools - equity and access for all to nature, cohesive messaging and awareness of importance of nature connections, safe routes to parks/schools, mental/emotional/physical health benefits, joint funding goals, community building, etc.

  • School goals for improved success - without adding burden to teachers/staff, yet increase partnerships for skill building, hands-on learning, social-emotional learning, student focus and needs, hearing student voices, career preparation, cross curriculum goals with city goals and look for opportunities to increase and build programs

  • Environmental cross-connections - identify opportunities to add more nature with tree plantings, native plants, habitat and other to meet environmental goals while meeting curriculum needs for hands-on learning. Share success stories, lead tours, activate natural areas with community building, stewardship and learning.

• Activating and maintaining green schoolyards - what is a well-activated and well-maintained green schoolyard?

  • Highlighting the values and goals of creating and using green schoolyards - health and wellness benefits, academic benefits, creating welcoming access for all, both school and community use, building the culture of the school to use the outdoors, promoting good design that is successful for years to come.

  • Tools for activating spaces - identify all of the potential uses for school and community, consistent messaging of what green schoolyards are and benefits (messaging outlets, tours, trainings, etc.), centralized tools to gain efficiencies (volunteer checks, volunteer work days, events/activities, community partners, etc.), teacher support and flexibility to implement.

• Action Planning - short, medium and long term goals to build momentum and success

  • Short term actions - Build on existing successes based on mapping of existing green schoolyards, compile a compelling story to share with leaders and teachers, start building relationships with key partners, create centralized data portals, and create forums to share ideas that welcome all voices

  • Medium term actions - build on successful models at existing schools, provide teacher and staff training for various uses and goals, invite the community to contribute, identify gaps in the green schoolyards to build equitable access, develop goals & standards for sustainable green schoolyard designs, and create resources for teachers to activate outdoor learning (create staff position for full-time garden coordinators, community resources, BioBlitz program, recess activities, better kits, etc.).

  • Long term actions - Identify reliable funding streams to build and activate green schoolyards, expand Wahsington’s Outdoor School for All with local resources, tie green schoolyards to cities’ and school districts action plans, creating on-going information and community sharing for green schoolyards.

• Upcoming Steering Committee meetings: upcoming meetings will invite the entire group to meet either virtually or in person to work through action items with a goal to host a community forum Spring 2023. Meetings will focus on a general topic to build-out action plan, but not too specific where it won’t feel relevant to all participants.We will continue to add voices to make plan applicable to all.