Growing awareness of the benefits of outdoor recreation and being in nature has spurred programs and projects designed to increase both. The scientific justification for these initiatives is based on the emerging evidence suggesting a connection between health and exposure to nature.
One initiative is the National Forum on Children and Nature, launched in June 2007, and hosted by The Conservation Fund. Led by a dynamic assembly of governors, mayors, corporate CEOs, heads of environmental organizations and leaders from health and education institutions, the Forum has identified nationally significant demonstration programs that reconnect kids with nature. Individually and collectively, these programs will provide substantial steps toward improved children’s health and environmental stewardship.
The Forum’s trendsetting initiative provides an excellent opportunity to define best practices and measure outcomes of Forum-endorsed projects. Furthermore, the diversity of projects provides opportunity for comparison. Rigorous evaluation of the initiative’s efforts could build the body of evidence necessary for long-term support and help individual projects maximize their benefits.
To achieve these goals, the National Forum on Children and Nature seeks to establish a center to evaluate the endorsed projects and share lessons learned from those evaluations. By collecting and publishing results, the center could build the body of evidence supporting the health, developmental and other benefits of engaging children in nature.
A Request for Application has been issued to identify an appropriate site and leadership for the Evaluation Center.
