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a young boy climbs on a rock wall

The Role of Risk in Youth Development

When we encourage young people to play outside or to engage in experiential learning, we are accepting a certain level of risk. The outdoors presents a range of environmental factors outside of our control. When we try

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a group of young people ride their bikes on a trail

The Explore Fund Council Promotes Access to the Outdoors

The Explore Fund is a project from The North Face, an iconic outdoor gear brand founded in California in the mid-1960s. While The North Face still sells backpacks, hiking boots, and tents, more recently it has also

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a group of young girls practice jump roping
Image courtesy of Jubilee Consortium

Grantee Spotlight: Jubilee Consortium

At NRF, we have the honor of working with many incredible community organizations doing important work across the U.S. One of these organizations is Jubilee Consortium, which is based in Los Angeles. One of the programs

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a counselor stands with three campers looking up at her

Camp is an Important Experience for Counselors

Earlier this month, we posted about the many benefits of going to camp for kids. But the experience of being at camp is not only valuable for campers. Counselors are often young people who also benefit from the

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two kids explore in the woods

Camp is an Important Experience for Kids

Summer camp is an annual fixture of many kids’ lives. For some families, camp serves primarily as a form of childcare when schools are out. For others, camp represents an intergenerational legacy that becomes an

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teenage girl sits in grass surrounded by trees

Intertwined Outcomes: Connection to Nature, Mental Health, and Outdoor Activity

It’s no secret that the pandemic is having adverse effects on youth, especially adolescents. Youth benefit from stable routines, and the habits they develop as young people as part of those routines are likely to

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