Blog

Blog Entries - 2023

a group of kids row on the bronx river in front of a bridge
Photo courtesy of Rocking the Boat

Water-Based Programs Offer New Skills & Life Lessons

Water is essential for all living organisms, but beyond basic survival, engaging in recreational and educational experiences in, on, and around water can be a transformative experience. Water-based youth programming can

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A young person plants a small tree in muddy ground

Tom's of Maine is Looking for Emerging Environmental Leaders

Young people have so much leadership, creativity, and passion to offer the environmental movement. Through its Get Into Nature initiative, Tom’s of Maine supports NRF’s Outdoor Grants program, which aims to connect

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A group of children use binoculars to look for birds
Photo courtesy of Urban Adventure Squad

Birdwatching with Kids

Birdwatching has a long history as a hobby, but it has grown exponentially in recent years. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that there are approximately 45 million birdwatchers in the United

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A child works in a notebook while laying in gradd

Green Schoolyards are on the Rise

The green schoolyards movement is growing. A green schoolyard is an outdoor space that supports a school’s mission to help kids learn and grow through instruction, exploration, and play. There’s no one correct

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a young person sits on a horse with two staff members on either side
Photo courtesy of Hands and Hearts for Horses

Equine Connections Promote Youth Development Outcomes

There are so many different ways to promote positive youth development. Some youth programs focus on sports, while others emphasize camping, and still others center around art or science. What most youth development

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a child leans in while holding a camera up to their eye
Photo courtesy of Parks in Focus

Grantee Spotlight: Parks in Focus

Sometimes it can feel as though kids are asked to choose between their interests instead of being celebrated for engaging with lots of different kinds of activities. They can either excel at dance or science,

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