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Family Nature Clubs: A Path to Healthier Communities and a Happier Planet-
This article discusses what family nature clubs are and how they help
families and children connect to nature in a world dominated by
technology. |
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Outdoor Afro-
Outdoor Afro is a national organization that encourages and inspires
African American communities to come together and connect with nature. |
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The Vitamin N Challenge-
This challenge is sponsored by the Children and Nature Network and
encourages people to look around their communities for opportunities to
connect people to nature. |
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The Parkolation Project, Boston, MA- This project was started by Wilhelmina Peragine in Boston, Massachusetts and its main goal is to get special education students involved in the process of creating small public spaces. |
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Cities Connecting Children to Nature- This initiative is sponsored by the National League of Cities and
partners with the Children and Nature Network. The goal of CCCN is to
encourage cities and city leaders to provide children and families with
opportunities to connect with nature.
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City Parks Alliance- The City Parks Alliance is a nationwide membership organization exclusively dedicated to urban parks. |
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Docs in the Park-
This initiative started in Frederick, Maryland as a way for the county
to promote good health and wellbeing by encouraging residents to
participate in outdoor activities and connect with nature. |
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Wegmans Passport to Family Wellness-
Wegmans created their “Passport to Family Wellness” to encourage
families to get outside and explore the nature around them. Each
passport contains a list of trails, with maps and fitness tips, and
families receive a prize after hiking all of the trails in their
passport. |
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Druid Hill Park Passport, Baltimore, MD-
Druid Hill Park is located in Baltimore, MD and their “Passport”
contains a list of all of the places you can visit within the park. Each
place will stamp your passport once you’ve completed a visit. |
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Summer Free For All, Portland, OR- This Portland, Oregon program connects communities to nature by hosting movies and concerts in their parks. |
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Baltimore Greenway Trails Network Coalition-
This network of trails in Baltimore, Maryland was created by the
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The goal of this project is to connect
three existing Baltimore trails that, when completed, will create a loop
that connects the city’s neighborhoods to the downtown core. |
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Baltimore Orchard Project, Baltimore, MD-
This project was started by residents in Baltimore, Maryland who wanted
to bring a new source of food to their neighborhoods. They have
partnered with many organizations to help bring fruit trees, orchards,
and food forests into the neighborhoods of Baltimore. |
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How Cities Use Parks for Arts and Cultural Programs- This report describes the multitude of events and activities that parks are used for in different cities. |
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Innovations in Art Parks-
The Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington encourages residents
to get outside and into nature by offering free exercise classes, such
as yoga and Zumba. |
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SEBA Gardens, Gaithersburg, MD-
SEBA Gardens is a community garden at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It’s a great
of example of corporate offices and buildings can incorporate green
spaces into their work environments. |
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Parkbus-
Parkbus is a program in Canada that provides urban residents with
transportation to travel and explore many of Canada’s beautiful outdoor
destinations. |
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Park City Transit, Park City, UT-
Residents and tourists in Park City, Utah have no problem getting
around town on their free bus system. The buses run completely on
biodiesel and destinations include many beautiful parks and nature
resorts. |
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Alternative Transportation in the Parks- The National Park Service has provided 63 parks nationwide with
alternative modes of transportation for visitors in the parks. This
system improves air quality by reducing the number of cars in the parks
and prevents wildlife and auto collisions. |
