Let’s connect kids to nature
where they live, learn and play

More than 80% of the world’s children live in urban areas and this trend continues to grow. Increasing safe, equitable access to nature is a strategy that enhances children’s well-being—and supports city priorities for public health, academic achievement, employment, quality of life, sustainability, and more.

In 2023, the National League of Cities (NLC) and partners Children & Nature Network (C&NN), and KABOOM! welcomed 19 new sites – including the Madison Region – into the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative. Nature Everywhere succeeds the highly successful Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative.

These 19 sites are part of a new national joint initiative called Nature Everywhere Communities. The initiative aims to increase equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play in 100 communities by 2025. Longstanding systems of inequity create disparities in the design, distribution and programming of green spaces and natural areas.

Through Nature Everywhere Communities, city leaders and their partners will be supported in dismantling these systems to improve the health and well-being of children through daily connections to nature. Find out what the Madison Region is planning to do…

Potential Focus Areas

• Infrastructure Strategies
  • Green Schoolyards
  • Early Childhood Nature Connection
  • Nature Smart Libraries
  • Nature Exploration Play Areas
• Organizing Approaches
  • Healing from Trauma in Nature
  • Youth Leadership Development

Current Supporters and Stakeholders

The Madison Region Nature Everywhere initiative is spearheaded by:

• Public Health Madison & Dane County, Justin Svingen
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens & City of Madison Parks Division, Tanya Zastrow
• Aldo Leopold Nature Center & Nature Net, Betsy Parker
• MMSD Physical Education, Ashley Pletzer
• Madison District 18, Alder Charles Myadze
• Reach any of us at natureeverywhere@cityofmadison.com
• More info on the City of Madison website

Additional supporters and contributors include:

• Lussier Family Heritage Center
• Madison Children’s Museum
• Madison Public Library
• Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR)
• Rooted
• The Joy Trip Project
• UW-Madison Arboretum

You Can Be a Supporter Too!

Are you or your organization in support of these efforts? Do you want to keep updated on our progress or alerted when action or input is needed?

Fill out the form below to get involved – and support Nature Everywhere!

Other Ways to Engage

• Attend the Children & Nature Network’s Nature Everywhere Conference – May 28-31, 2024
• Be a part of Nature Everywhere Day – June 1, 2024
• Check out the City of Madison Nature Everywhere website

Past Work

The current Nature Everywhere work builds upon the work done in the past.