GUIDING PRINCIPLES

•Nature as Teacher and Nurturer - All children need time to explore nature through unstructured and self-directed play.

• Connection - Nature provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship to our self, each other, and our environment.

• Community and Society - Preserving and creating natural settings, especially on public lands, provides restorative places for families and neighbors to interact and grow the community.

• Role Models - A caring adult who shares a love of the natural world can inspire a sense of awe and wonder in a child.

• Respect - Learning to respect nature and others is fundamental for our well being, the wellness of others and the Earth as a whole.

• Access - To engage and connect to nature, children and adults need access to information, resources, and developmentally appropriate activities.