Cities Connecting Children to Nature and Nature Everywhere
Cities Connecting Children to Nature and Nature Everywhere is an initiative of the National League of Cities, Children & Nature Network and Kaboom! to increase more equitable and abundant access to nature in communities through a partnership between The National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the Children & Nature Network. Recognizing the importance of children’s connection to nature. Texas Children in Nature Network assists the effort in Texas.
CCCN is dedicated to assisting municipal leaders and community partners in fostering greater access to nature for children.
This initiative offers support for city officials and their partners to develop a strategic plan and action to make nature access an integral part of city priorities, planning, and policy-making across a range of areas, including community health and wellness, education, out-of-school time programming, job creation, transportation, climate resilience, and land use. These cities implement policy, develop new partnerships, amplify nature-based programming, and create more equitable nature access in parks and other urban infrastructure. Cities benefit from support in evidence-based practices, access to national experts, and structured peer learning opportunities.
Find out how your community can participate in Nature Everywhere.
Find out how your city ranks in providing parkland to the communities at Trust for Public Lands ParkScore.
Cities Connecting Children to Nature Austin
Cities Connecting Children to Nature Austin strives to ensure every child has access to and connection with nature every day.
CCCN Austin is committed to connecting people with the natural spaces where they live, learn, and play, which fosters lifelong beneficial relationships with nature. CCCN collaborates across institutions and systems, amplifying efforts, sharing resources, and creating partnerships that deepen their collective vision and advance our mission. Guiding Framework
The creation of the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBOR) illustrates what equitable access to nature should look like in Austin and establishes a common foundation and high aspirations for nature connection in the community. Austin City Council unanimously voted to pass the COBOR on January 26, 2017. Show your support for Austin’s Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights by signing the pledge form.
The 2016 Nature Equity Map was developed to identify areas of Austin that are nature-deficient and help guide CCCN efforts. Areas of highest impact were determined through an analysis of multiple factors including median household income, inverse tree canopy, child population, waterways coverage, justice 40, and parkland coverage. Due to the rapid growth of Austin, we updated the 2016 Nature Equity Map to reflect new data to include additional impacts on nature equity such as transportation to parkland, facilities, public and private schools, and more. The 2022 Nature Equity Map continues to inform the selection of the areas where priority implementation strategies will be focused.
CCCN Austin strives to increase equitable access to nature for all children by creating connections where children live, learn and play. We bring together community partners, neighbors, and city leaders to drive change in areas that have historically faced underinvestment in green spaces. Through five interconnected strategies, our work advances multiple citywide initiatives transforming systems for lasting change.
- Early Childhood
- Green School Parks
- Emerging Green Leaders
- Nature Play
- Nature Smart Libraries Program
Contact CCCN Austin
Melody Alcazar: CCCN Program Manager 512-974-9466
