Nature Action Forum A Project of the World Forum Foundation's Nature Action Collaborative for Children Arbor Day Farm's Lied Lodge • Nebraska, USA October 17-20, 2010 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the suggested composition of a Nature Action Team?
What if we can't locate team members from other professions?
What if not all members of our team can attend the Nature Action Forum?
May we add to our team after the Forum?
What is our Nature Action Team expected to accomplish upon returning from the Action Forum?
Must our team choose one of the strategies listed above?
Must our team have a well-developed plan for connecting children with nature in order to attend?
What criteria will be used to select teams to be invited to the Nature Action Forum?
How does our team apply for participation?
How can I recruit team members?
What costs are associated with the Nature Action Forum?
Is there scholarship money available to help with registration fees, travel, or lodging costs?
Will funds be available to help our group carry out its action plan?
What is the suggested composition of a Nature Action Team?
From our experience best results occur in connecting children with nature when the initiative is carried out by a multi-disciplinary team from a defined geographic area. The geographic area of a team may be as small as a single metropolitan area or rural region or as large as entire nation.
Ideally the membership of the team will include three to five individuals who care about both young children (children under the age of 9) and the environment. These individuals should represent three or more professions such as...
- early childhood education,
- environmental education,
- environmental science,
- environmental design,
- landscape architecture,
- community architecture,
- community planning,
- community health.
What if we can't locate team members from other professions?
The World Forum's tech team has designed an online message board so that NACC members can post appeals for members for their teams.
Click here to post your appeal
Review the message board and contact someone else who has already
made an appeal
We are prepared to help you find individuals from other professions interested in connecting children with nature, although we cannot guarantee success in this. For assistance in locating potential team members send your appeal to info@WorldForumFoundation.org.
What if not all members of our team can attend the Nature Action Forum?
It would be most effective if all members of your team could attend the Nature Action Forum. Certainly the majority of the original team members should attend.
May we add to our team after the Forum?
You are encouraged to grow your team to whatever number is needed for the success of your action plan. If you already have a team that is larger than five members, you may send representatives from the larger team to attend the Forum. You are also encouraged to add members to your team after returning from the Forum.
What is our Nature Action Team expected to accomplish upon returning from the Action Forum?
The goal of the World Forum Foundation's Nature Action Coalition for Children (NACC) is to connect two million children around the world with nature over the next three years. We are inviting Nature Action Teams from around the world to help us accomplish this goal.
Each Nature Action Team will be expected to commit to carrying out an action plan that will help today's young children develop positive emotional connections with nature so that they will want to take action on behalf of the environment and grow to become the next generation of motivated environmental stewards.
Specific sessions and technical assistance will be provided to groups on the following strategies for connecting children with nature:
- Organizing national or regional conferences focused on connecting children with nature
- Organizing a Nature Action Community Forum
- Involving families in supporting children's emotional connections with nature (including how to organize local or regional family nature clubs)
- Designing and creating nature-based outdoor spaces for children as a collaborative endeavor that serves as an example or model to inspire similar actions through your geographic area
- Creating multi-disciplinary, nature-related college courses which bring together students from at least two disciplines (education, landscape architecture, environmental studies, public health...) with the aim of connecting children with nature.
- Developing or revising public policies and programs that facilitate connecting children with nature.
Must our team choose one of the strategies listed above?
The majority of teams chosen will be focusing on strategies such as those listed above, and NACC is prepared to provide technical assistance on these strategies. If your team chooses to pursue a different approach to connecting children with nature, it will be considered. If enough Nature Action Teams submit strategies similar to yours, we will attempt to organize technical assistance for this approach.
Must our team have a well-developed plan for connecting children with nature in order to attend?
No. A very preliminary action plan is expected at this time. The idea of the Nature Action Forum is to provide assistance in fully developing your action plan. We hope teams will feel free to revise initial plans as new information and ideas are presented during the Forum.
What criteria will be used to select teams to be invited to the Nature Action Forum?
Based on past attendance patterns at NACC forums, it is anticipated that more teams will apply for participation than there is space for. Teams will be invited to participate that...
- Are committed to carrying out action plans following the Nature Action Forum which hold promise to connect significant numbers of children with nature;
- Include three to five representatives of at least three relevant professions;
- Are willing to participate in a follow-up evaluation of how their project progressed. (Note: An easy-to-use online tool will be available to help carry out this evaluation.)
- Add to the geographic and cultural diversity of the initiative; and
- Submit their applications on a timely basis.
How does our team apply for participation?
The initial application period for the Action Forum has passed. A number of teams have been invited to participate. However, it is likely there will be some teams who for some reason can't participate. If you are interested in sending a team, notify the World Forum Foundation of your interest by sending a message to info@WorldForumFoundation.org.
How can I recruit team members?
To help you spread the word about the Connecting Children with Nature Action Forum, we encourage you to download and distribute our Action Forum flyer.
Click here, to download the Action Forum flyer.
What costs are associated with the Nature Action Forum?
- Nature Action Forum registration fee: $800 per person. Fee covers all sessions, all meals, all entertainment and social events, and an Environmental Action Kit with a wide range of tools and resources to help you carry out your action plan.
- Lied Lodge Room fee: $129 per room (there will be a slightly higher fee for multiple occupancy)
Is there scholarship money available to help with registration fees, travel, or lodging costs?
A limited amount of scholarship money is available for teams from communities with limited financial resources. You must indicate the need for scholarship assistance when your team submits its initial application.
Will funds be available to help our group carry out its action plan?
Following the Action Forum, your group may apply for a stipend to help with implementation of your action plan. A limited amount of funding is available for groups from communities with limited financial resources.
What if I have more questions?
We encourage you to submit any additional questions you have about the Action Forum or about the application process to info@WorldForumFoundation.org.
What is the tentative agenda for the Forum?
Sunday, October 17: Forum Begins
Afternoon
- Begin optional facilitated interactive activities:
- Participate in creating a nature-themed mosaic
- Create your own environmental art with natural materials
- View a children's art display: "Nature in my part of the world" (Attendees encouraged to submit art for this display.)
Evening:
- Opening Ceremonies
- Dinner buffet - featuring international foods
- Later evening concert
Monday, October 18
Morning:
- Welcome and overview of the day
- Presentations/celebrations of successful projects from around the world
- Lunch at Steinhart Lodge - A celebration of fresh foods from Arbor Day Farm at a rustic lodge a short walk from Lied Lodge and Conference Center
Afternoon:
- Presentations by leaders from World Forum Foundation Working Groups focused on a variety of topics (Presentations are designed to provide ideas and assistance for Forum attendees as they plan their projects)
- Group discussions (Groups with similar project themes will have time to meet and discuss together.)
- Evening activities: Sit down dinner Optional music-making activities - Steinhart Lodge
Tuesday, October 19
Morning:
- Final presentations from World Forum Foundation Working Group leaders
- Group discussions
- Lunch: Outdoor picnic
Afternoon:
- Strategies for Connecting Children with Nature
- Teams will be able to select in-depth session providing them with ideas and tools for implementing their action plan
Evening:
- Barbecue at the barns
- Entertainment options
Wednesday, October 20
- Individual teams meet to further develop their plans assisted by members of NACC Leadership Team
- Groups meet with other groups with like topics and give short presentations of their plans
- Lunch and closing ceremonies
- Celebration and next steps