Natural Service Network
Natural Service is a valuable way to weave nature into our everyday lives. It can support our health and act as a bonding agent for families and communities. The more high-‐tech our world becomes, the more we need nature in our lives. Young, old or in between, we can reap extraordinary benefits by connecting – or reconnecting – to nature. The outdoor world can expand our senses and reignite a sense of awe and wonder. Nature can help us feel fully alive. The twenty-‐first century will be the century of human restoration in the natural world.
– Richard Louv, “The Nature Principle” E N G A G E S E R V E I N S P I RE © Children & Nature Network Natural Service Network Tool Kit June 2012
Natural Service Network Tool Kit 2012 The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) Natural Service Network brings together individuals, organizations and agencies to create a community of shared commitment to service; to inspire, cultivate and nourish a life-‐long commitment to nature-‐based play and recreation; and to take action to benefit the environment—from neighborhoods to community parks to national parks and other public lands. This is not just a call to action, it is a call for fun! Think of it as a party invitation, and the party location is all the green and living space around us. Community gardening, river clean-‐ups, trail maintenance, habitat restoration, people getting other people outside—however and wherever you get outside to serve in nature, we want to hear about it! The Children & Nature Network created the Natural Service Network (NSN) to: inspire and cultivate among people of all ages, especially children and youth, a life-‐long commitment to the health of the environment itself • physically enhance, maintain and/or restore natural areas • provide ideas and resources to help people create successful projects • bring high visibility to nature-‐based inter-‐generational service projects all year long with a special emphasis on outdoor service in September. •
Plan to participate. Help restore the planet and yourself.
Join the Natural Service Network at: http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/naturalservicenetwork If your organization or agency would like to participate in the Natural Service Network, please contact C&NN at serve@childrenandnature.org.
E N G A G E S E R V E I N S P I RE © Children & Nature Network Natural Service Network Tool Kit June 2012
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We’d love to hear from you. Tell us about your service projects and what inspires you to serve. Share your photos and stories on C&NN Connect.
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C&NN provides special resources to foster outdoor service during the month of September. [+] Register your event here [+] Find an event here
Natural Service Ideas for S.O.S. and throughout the Year NATURAL SERVICE IDEAS Plant native trees, wildflowers or a stream buffer Help with invasive plant removal or trail clearing Organize a beach, river or stream cleanup Volunteer with a city park, state park or city forest Host a recycling event or help at a community or school garden Create a butterfly garden or wildlife habitat in your backyard or neighborhood Build bat boxes or bird houses and feeders Visit C&NN’s www.childrenandnature.org/naturestory for a wide variety of things to do when playing outdoors in nature ⇒ Start a Family Nature Club to play and serve with your friends and neighbors – www.childrenandnature.org/movement/naturalfamilies
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To see what others have done, visit: http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/naturalservicenetwork
LOOKING FOR PARTNERS? Check out these organizations and agencies.
Find others on the C&NN website. C&NN Connect – http://childrenandnature.ning.com C&NN Grassroots Campaigns – in the C&NN movement directory http://www.childrenandnature.org/directory/campaigns/ C&NN N ature C lubs for F amilies – in the C &NN m ovement d irectory http://www.childrenandnature.org/directory/clubs
E N G A G E S E R V E I N S P I RE © Children & Nature Network Natural Service Network Tool Kit June 2012
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Sierra Club www.sierraclub.org/youth U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/letsgooutside/ REI Stores – ask for the outreach specialist www.rei.com The North Face www.planetexplore.com National Public Lands Day www.publiclandsday.org Arbor Day Foundation www.natureexplore.org Trust for Public Land www.tpl.org National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org National Audubon Society www.audubon.org American Rivers www.amrivers.org Keep America Beautiful www.kab.org Local Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation or similar agencies Page
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10 Steps For Planning, Sharing and Documenting Your Event ⇒ Plan a Natural Service Event – Find your team, decide what you want to do, and set the date! Think about turning your Natural Service project into a truly multi-‐generational event. Even very young children, given proper supervision, can join the fun. You might want to add a Play-‐ with-‐Nature and/or a Create-‐with-‐Nature experience to your service event. Nature nurtures us, so fostering the desire to serve and give back is a win-‐win. ⇒ Use the Natural Service Web Site Badge or Serve Outside September S.O.S. on your own web site or blog. ⇒ Post flyers advertising the event in public places and in your online communities. ⇒ Send event announcements to community calendars. Publicize your upcoming event using social media. Share on Facebook, Twitter, C&NN Connect and other online places you frequent. ⇒ Prepare the photo and liability releases that are appropriate for your event and make sure all participants sign them. ⇒ Document your event with photos and/or video. ⇒ After the event, follow up with Thank You notes for partners and sponsors and by sharing your successes with others. ⇒ Stand up and be counted, take the NSN Survey. ⇒ Post your stories and photos on C&NN Connect. ⇒ You may also wish to share your photos and videos on: Facebook and Twitter (#serveoutside).
E N G A G E S E R V E I N S P I RE © Children & Nature Network Natural Service Network Tool Kit June 2012
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NOTE: The role of the Children & Nature Network (C&NN) is to help build the children and nature movement, and to help parents and others learn about ways they can connect children to nature. Natural Service is an approach we wish to encourage. However, C&NN is not responsible for the activities and safeguards associated with events scheduled to reconnect children and nature. At any time, when children are outside on their own, or with families and friends, everyone should take safety precautions and be mindful of risks.
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“I believe that it is through nature that we find we are most connected to each other and our communities. Natural Service provides the opportunity for people to connect to their own roots and to each other, to create one family. The power of nature as a facilitator for change should not be overestimated. The trees don’t care what race you are, but still they share their shade. The river will not check your FICO score before quenching your thirst. Every day is filled with a chance to make a difference. We invite you to join us in the simple act of rolling up our sleeves and digging within our hearts to build the new nature movement.” Juan Martinez, Natural Leaders Network
Acknowledgements Special thanks to the Natural Leaders for inspiring the C&NN Natural Service Network. The children and nature movement is growing and moving, thanks in large part to the energy pulsing through the millennial generation. The Natural Leaders Network is an initiative of the Children & Nature Network with support from the Sierra Club, The North Face, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and REI. The Children & Nature Network is a non-‐profit organization dedicated to building a worldwide movement to reconnect children and nature. C&NN builds awareness, supports the grassroots with tools and strategies, develops publications and educational materials, synthesizes the best available research, and encourages collaboration. C&NN is also home to the Natural Families Network, Natural Teachers Network and over 100 grassroots campaigns and initiatives.
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© Children & Nature Network Natural Service Network Tool Kit June 2012