The Nature Action Collaborative for Children’s Mission and Vision

Mission

The mission of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children is to re-connect children with the natural world by making developmentally appropriate nature education a sustaining and enriching part of the daily lives of the world's children.

Vision

The rapidly changing global condition of children and childhood requires new collaborations with new approaches to all that we do with and for children. One area of change is the disconnection of children from the natural world. In this regard, children increasingly face challenging societal, technological and environmental conditions that are producing deteriorating trends in physical and mental health; at the same time, existing educational approaches and conditions are inadequate to enable them to meet and overcome these challenges, much less secure their future.

Transforming our approach to environments, health, and early education is critical. Connecting children with the natural world:

• Is crucial for their optimal intellectual and physical development;
  
• Provides a sense of refuge and healing in a sometimes violent and frightening world;
  
• Helps them grow into adults who care about environmental stewardship;
  
• Nurtures a sense of shared community among the world's peoples.
  

1. Provide opportunities to collect and disseminate information (including research)
2. Provide professional growth and mentoring opportunities
3. Become a strong voice for advocacy
4. Provide opportunities for early educators, environmentalists, and landscape architects/community planners (as well as others such as architects, health care professionals, parents, and elected officials) to meet together on a regular basis.