No Child Left Inside Coalition Children & Nature Movement MARYLAND The Children & Nature Network NATIONAL Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition

National No Child Left Inside Coalition Represents nearly 2000 organizations (60+ million individuals) in support of legislation and efforts to get kids outside and connected to nature.

National No Child Left Inside: Legislation

National No Child Left Inside: Legislation Status The federal budget includes environmental literacy in the U.S. Dpt of Ed budget for the very first time and EE has been included in President Obama’s “Blueprint for Reform.” Promising discussions have been under way to encourage the inclusion of No Child Left Inside language in the rewriting of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), formerly known as No Child Left Behind. STAY TUNED!

MYTHBUSTERS!

If I’m a member of the National NCLI Coalition, I’m automatically a member of the MDNCLI Coalition.  No! Each are separate organizations. The National NCLI Coalition keeps members updated about the federal legislation.  Yep! The National NCLI Coalition keep members updated about what’s happening in Maryland.  Yes & no – trick question. If something “big” happens in a state, it will be posted on the NCLI web site and/or Facebook page, but becoming a MDNCLI Coalition member is the best way to stay on top of local news. The Coalition sends a lot of s.  Nope -just when there’s big news or an action alert.

MD Partnership for Children in Nature In April 2008, Governor O’Malley issued a groundbreaking Executive Order establishing the MD Partnership for Children in Nature. The Partnership was charged with developing and implementing a plan to provide youth with structured and unstructured opportunities for play, outdoor recreation, learning and scientific study and a state environmental literacy plan

Partnership is co-chaired by Secretary of MD-DNR (John Griffin) and State School Superintendent (Dr. Nancy Grasmick). Per the Executive Order, the Partners are reps of 22 diverse organizations representing education, recreation, environmental and conservation interests. MD Partnership for Children in Nature

Maryland Children in Nature Recommendations 2009: Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature Report & Recommendations released. Report contained ten recommendations addressing three main goals to connect children to nature.

Connecting Communities & Families to Nature

1.Incorporate nature play spaces into community health planning, land use planning and community development design. 2.Establish a Maryland Trail Development Office to address trail planning and funding, trail advocacy, a one-stop trail GIS database, and the development of a new Maryland Trail Town Program. 3.Develop a strategic state park and public lands Interpretive and Outdoor Classroom Plan, identifying funding needs to support a greater presence of park rangers and seasonal naturalist staff.

Nature Playspaces Photo by Julie Dieguez Hershey Children Garden Cleveland Botanical Gardens Photo by Julie Dieguez Middlebury College, VT Photo by Julie Dieguez Nature Explore Messy Materials Area

Trails Photo by Julie Dieguez

Outdoor Classrooms Photo courtesy of Smith Center

Reaching out to underserved communities

4. Develop and implement a comprehensive program to increase access and utilization of public lands and waterways for underserved communities. 5. Expand and improve the existing Civic Justice Corps (CJC) model to serve 1,000 at-risk youth statewide by 2015 with summer conservation jobs and outdoor enrichment activities. Reaching out to underserved communities

Increase Access to Public Lands & Waterways Photo courtesy of Mary Rivkin

CJC Summer Conservation Jobs Photo by Julie Dieguez Arlington Echo Chesapeake Connections Program

Strengthening student’s connection to nature during the school day. Never let a formal education get in the way of you learning. --Mark Twain

6. Provide an annual meaningful outdoor EE experience for every student every year, pre-K through grade Require for graduation that every high school student take and pass a designated course of study on environmental literacy 8. Establish a comprehensive initiative to green all schools & school grounds, and embed schoolyard habitat programs as integrated indoor & outdoor instructional components of curriculum. 9. Provide professional development for teachers, state park rangers and naturalists, and other service providers. 10. Adopt the Maryland State Environmental Literacy Standards Strengthening student’s connection to nature during the school day.

Environmental Literacy (Cliffs Notes Version)

Environmental Literacy To-Do List Pass Environmental Literacy Graduation Requirement Pass additional environmental literacy COMAR language (for alignment, clarity) Develop an overview of draftConsiderations for the Development & Implementation of Effective Environmental Literacy Programs Parallel efforts: Revise draft MD Environmental Literacy Standards Develop E-Lit Program Promising Practices and Model Elements School systems develop programs (to be certified by State Superintendent by 2015 & each 5 yrs after)

MYTHBUSTERS!

Anyone can become a member of the Partnership  No. One representative for each organization listed in the Executive Order was officially appointed as a Partner. If your organization, or your type of organization, is represented, touch base with that Partner to share your interest or join the MDNCLI Coalition to stay updated. Bummer. I can’t come to Partnership meetings.  Wrong! The meetings are public and occur quarterly. The next one is in March (Date TBD)  MSDE is not supportive of environmental literacy. Wrong! State Superintendent Grasmick, MSDE staff & the State Board (and the Governor) have been very supportive of environmental literacy efforts – Last fall they passed the first e-lit graduation requirement in the U.S. ! There was a setback with recently proposed language, but MSDE staff have made remarkable efforts to work this out over the past few weeks and continue to be very open to & accommodating with stakeholders.

Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition The MDNCLI Coalition is now 230 organizations strong, representing over 635,000 Marylanders. The Coalition represents education, environment, recreation, religion, youth, health and business interests across Maryland.

The MDNCLI Coalition provides: Support for Partnership efforts and participates in the implementation of recommendations Public outreach, keeping Marylanders informed of the progress of the Children in Nature recommendations and national NCLI legislation, as well exciting opportunities to become involved. Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition

I’m really interested in one or more of the recommendations and would like to get involved. How do I stay informed & get involved in what’s happening with the Partnership and the recommendations?  Me! The Maryland No Child Left Inside Coalition provides public outreach regarding progress on the recommendations, action alerts and opportunities to get involved. Partnership FAQs

MYTHBUSTERS!

I’m a member of the Maryland NCLI Coalition, so I’m automatically a member of the national NCLI Coalition.  No. Were you sleeping? Even though they are both based out of Maryland, they are separate coalitions. The MDNCLI Coalition keep members updated about the federal legislation?  If there’s big news, yes, but only the national coalition handles regular updates about the legislation and efforts in other states. The MDNCLI Coalition sends a lot of s.  Nope. Just when there’s big news or an action alert. The MDNCLI Coalition is the local branch of the national NCLI Coalition.  Nope. Separate organizations…although MDNCLI supports and promotes NCLI legislation and efforts. The Coalition provides public outreach & support for MD Partnership for Children in Nature efforts.  Yep! Join the Coalition to stay updated & involved!

Things you can do right now 1.Familiarize yourself with these efforts by visiting the web sites. 2.Stay updated by becoming a member of both Coalitions 3. Visit us on Facebook. Everyone needs friends.

Get outside… and take someone with you! Photo by Julie Dieguez