The Roadmap

Most Nature-Connected Generation

Every generation deserves the chance to explore, discover, and connect with the places that make America special. Let’s increase access to nature and make sure every kid grows up with strong ties to their local environment.

Mile Markers

Childhood belongs outside

Every kid should spend 3 hours outside every day.

Going outside gives kids room to move, imagine, make friends, and discover their own backyard. Plus, it’s good for them (and doctors agree).

Half a mile to get a little wild

Nature and green spaces within a half-mile of every American.

The closest greenery should be just a stone’s throw away so people have a place to move, recharge, and connect with others in the places we call home.

Turn every school into a gateway to nature

Nature exploration and conservation education in every school, built around local environments as living classrooms.

The outdoors were the original classroom. Learning in nature gives kids the hands-on experiences and appreciation to feel connected to their environment.

It takes a village

School districts and states set curriculum, local conservation groups provide hands-on programming, and corporate partners fund equipment and field trips.

The strongest learning happens when kids can turn lessons into hands-on, real experiences with the people who know their community best.

Know your own backyard

Every student explores nature in their own community before high school graduation.

Exploring home helps young people feel rooted, curious, and invested in the communities they might one day lead.

Put conservation on the syllabus

Half of universities have conservation programs

We need a new generation of people with the knowledge and skills to make a career out of solving real-world challenges and caring for the places we all depend on.

Let’s get your s*** together

Composting programs in every American city & town.

Small everyday actions can add up to healthier communities and a whole lot less waste. Plus, getting your hands dirty is good for the soul.

Less scrolling, more strolling

Decreasing phone & screen time by 50%, especially among youth.

When we put down the phone, we have more time to move, connect, explore, and actually experience life together.

Proofs of Progress

Turning schoolyards into neighborhood green spaces

Five elementary schoolyards in Tacoma, Washington have been transformed into vibrant outdoor spaces, bringing nature closer so kids can connect and play outside. Completed in May 2026 by the Trust for Public Land, the new green spaces serve more than 2,000 students and put neighborhood parks within a 10-minute walk of home for 25,000 people.

Making every kid a mountain kid

In Plumas County, California, the mountains, forests, and creeks are becoming part of the classroom. Through the Outdoor Core program, students get outside throughout the school year to explore local wildlife, follow waterways, build trails, and learn about their home. What began as a small outdoor education program has grown into a district-wide K–12 experience, helping kids build a lasting connection to nature and pride in caring for their own backyard.

Bringing the classroom to the great outdoors

Across California’s Feather River region, kids are discovering that some of the best classrooms are just a short walk from school. Through Learning Landscapes, students at 13 schools in six rural communities explore nearby forests, meadows, creeks, and wetlands through hands-on science and outdoor adventures. This program reaches 2,500 schoolchildren each year, giving them more opportunities to get outside, learn about their home, and grow in the next generation who will care for the area.

Get on board

This is just the start of the road. Sign up to be the first to hear about new programs and actions you can take to build a stronger, more nature-connected future.