© 2014 Children & Nature Network LET’S G.O.! LETS G.O.! (Get Outside!) Tool Kit

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The Children & Nature Network welcomes you to Let’s G.O.!

We hope the following tools and resources will inspire you and help you inspire others

to PLAY, SERVE and CELEBRATE outside.

“The solutions to Nature-Deficit Disorder are found

within every one of us, every leaf, every home and

every community. Let's G.O.! Get Outside!” Juan Martinez, Director of Leadership Development and

the Natural Leaders Network; National Co-Chair, Let’s G.O.!

© 2014 Children & Nature Network LET’S G.O.! LETS G.O.! (Get Outside!) Tool Kit

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Introduction

We believe that every day should be a Get Outside Day—and that

projects to connect children and nature should be encouraged

throughout the year in children's daily lives. The Children & Nature

Network (C&NN) named April as Children & Nature Awareness Month

several years ago, and the Natural Leaders launched Get Outside Day

four years ago. The response of local governments, private groups

and individuals across the country has been uniformly supportive.

From the special proclamations of civic leaders to a collection of songs

written to celebrate the movement, Children & Nature Awareness

Month has both inspired those already interested in reconnecting

children with nature and focused the attention of others on the

importance of outdoor play in nature for healthy childhood development. These initiatives have also

helped bring attention, visibility, and a sense of community to the many outstanding efforts already

underway.

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. Let’s G.O.! 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.

© 2014 Children & Nature Network LET’S G.O.! LETS G.O.! (Get Outside!) Tool Kit

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10 Steps

For Planning, Registering, Sharing and Documenting Your Event

1. Plan a Let’s G.O.! Event – Find your team, decide what you want to do and set the date! If

you are looking for help with planning, this tool kit has lots of ideas.

2. Partner with Let’s G.O.! for your April event—It’s simple. Use one of these tag lines and the

Let’s G.O.! logo to let people know. Get the logo on C&NN Connect:

http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/letsgo/page/logo

This event is part of Let’s G.O.! (Get Outside)

We support the Natural Leaders. Let’s G.O.! (Get Outside)

3. Use the Let’s G.O.! Web Site Badge on your own web site or blog. Get the badge here:

http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/letsgo/page/badge

4. Acknowledge sponsors on your materials. Check with local sponsors to obtain their logos and

request permission from C&NN if you wish to use the logos of national Let’s G.O.! sponsors.

5. Publicize your upcoming event using social media. Share on Facebook, Twitter, and C&NN.

Connect on other online places you frequent.

6. Prepare the photo and liability releases that are appropriate for your event.

7. Download and Print the Let’s G.O.! signs. Take them with you on the day of your event and

photograph or video yourself and/or your Let’s G.O.! group.

8. Document your event with photos and/or video. Post Photos and

Videos to Facebook, Twitter, C&NN Connect and YouTube or wherever else you share.

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LET’S G.O.! Do-It-Yourself Resources

Let’s G.O.! Fliers:

– General Flier for Community Outreach

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_FLIER.pdf

– Editable Flier for Your Event

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_FLIER.doc

Download the Print Ready Let’s G.O.! Logos

– http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/letsgo/page/logo

Get the Let’s G.O.! Badge for your Web site pages and BLOG:

– http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/letsgo/page/badge

Marketing and PR:

– C&NN’s Let’s G.O.! Press Release

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_PR.doc

– Editable Local Let’s G.O.! Press Releases

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_PR_REGIONAL.doc

– Tips for Publicizing Your Event

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_BrandingPR.doc

– Tips for Using Social Media http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_SocialMedia.doc

Finding Potential Partners:

– C&NN Movement Directory – search by State or zip code

http://www.childrenandnature.org/directory/

– USF&WS - Connecting People with Nature regional contacts – search the C&NN Directory

http://www.childrenandnature.org/movement/detail/united_states_fish_and_wildlife/

– REI Outreach Specialist Directory http://www.rei.com/map/store

Day of Event Resources:

– Let’s G.O.! (Get Outside) signs

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_SIGNS.pdf

– Sample Participant Releases

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_RELEASES.doc

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Here are some additional ideas to get you started brainstorming about partners and allies:

Local Stores and Businesses

Outdoor Retailers

North Face Stores

REI Stores

Other retailers like Walmart/Target may donate a gift card to raffle or help with a purchase of items for your event

Youth Organizations

4-H clubs

Boys and Girls Clubs

YMCA After School Programs

Boy Scout/Girl Scout Troops

Local Schools

Mothers/Fathers Clubs

Supplies

Local Businesses

Grocery Store- Snacks, Beverages

Local Landscaper- Plants, Supplies

Civic Organizations and Government Agencies

City, County and State Parks

Land Trusts

Lake Associations

Local Government Offices

Community Gardens

Land Trusts

City Parks and Recreation Department

Once you’ve got your partners you can decide on the specifics. Would you like this to be an

event that all community members may attend or would you like to have an event for young people in a

neighborhood? What age group? The idea of the Let’s G.O.! events is that they will be intergenerational

opportunities to get people outside in nature, but you can still focus on the age group that makes the

most sense for your community. Let’s G.O.! events will look different across the country, and they

should! After you decide who your audience will be, work with your partners to plan an outdoor event

that is age and interest appropriate. It may not be a great idea to

have preschool-aged children picking up garbage and high school

students may or may not be interested in a Super Bug Safari!

Okay, I know who I want to invite to attend, how

do I get them there? Enlist your allies and partners. If you do not work or volunteer

in a capacity that gives you access to your audience, you may want

to consider forming a partnership with someone or an organization

that has access to that audience. For example, if you are hoping to

engage local high school students in a beach clean-up, consider

contacting the chair of the science department at the high school

or the person in charge of the high school Recycling, Community

Action, or Outing Club. Remember to visit the C&NN’s movement

map and explore C&NN Connect to find additional partners in your

area who can help you target potential attendees for your event.

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How would I advertise the event?

See Tips for Publicizing Your Event. http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LETSGO_BrandingPR.doc

Ask any of your partners to help. If you are hoping to have community members attend the event, consider calling radio stations, newspapers, community organizations, etc. well ahead of time and ask them to give community members a heads-up about what you are doing. Work with your local REI stores to have the events posted in their monthly online and printed calendars. Consider putting flyers in the local library, places of worship, and local restaurants and businesses (with permission) to increase attendance. Invite local papers and news stations to cover the event, and also write a press release about the event and send photos to local papers. Some newspapers, TV stations, and Chambers of Commerce host a community calendar in which you may be able to have your Let’s G.O.! event featured. Remember, it never hurts to ask!

I don’t have any ideas for an event or project. Do you have any suggestions? Think about your own interests and what excites you about nature and playing outdoors. The short

list of suggestions that follows can help get your ideas flowing. Also check out the online slideshow

Let’s G.O.! Join the Party, Join the Fun to see how other network members have chosen to Play, Serve

and Celebrate. http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/LetsGO2012_book

NATURE PLAY DAY IDEAS C&NN’s Where Nature Meets Story for a wide variety of things to

do when playing outdoors in nature.

www.childrenandnature.org/naturestory

C&NN’s Together in Nature: Pathways to a Stronger, Closer Family

Tool Kit

http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/FamilyBonding.pdf

Nature Rocks http://www.naturerocks.org

Parent’s Guide to Nature Play

http://www.greenheartsinc.org/Parents__Guide.html

Think Outside the Box - check these out.

Wild Zones

http://www.wild-zone.net/www.wild-zone.net/Toolkit.html

Create-with-Nature

http://www.naturesculpture.com/installations/blakezone/blakezone.html

Mud Games

http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/GG2011/PlayinAK_CarmenField.pdf

Nature Play Spaces

http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/GG2011/NaturePlay_byMaryHardcastle.pdf

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NATURAL SERVICE IDEAS The idea of Natural Service is to get people outside serving in their communities for the health and well-

being of natural landscapes and the people who live around them. These Natural Service projects will

physically enhance, restore and maintain natural areas.

Plant Native Trees or Wildflowers

Help with Invasive Plant Removal or Trail Clearing

Plant a Stream Buffer (talk with your local

Conservation District)

Organize a beach clean-up

Volunteer with a City Park, State Park, or

City Forest

Host a Recycling Event

Help at a Community Garden

Clean up a Stream or River

Build Bat Boxes or Bird Houses and Feeders

To see what other network members have done: [+] View the Natural Service Network 2011 Slide Show http://www.childrenandnature.org/docs/NaturalService_slideshow

We want to celebrate your accomplishment

and help inspire others! After you’ve finished your Let’s G.O.! event, we

encourage you to share what you did with others.

Please keep the network informed—post pictures and

event information on C&NN Connect, Facebook, Twitter

and Youtube.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to the Natural Leaders for creating Let’s G.O.! and inspiring all of us to come together

to play, serve and celebrate in nature.

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, REI and The Walt Disney Company.

The Children & Nature Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a worldwide

movement to reconnect children and nature. C&NN envisions a world in which all children play, learn

and grow with nature in their everyday lives. 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.

This Tool Kit was created by Natural Leaders Andrew Anderson, Leslie Cook, Tyrell Hughes, George

Lopez, Juan Martinez, Hanna Pinneo and Katia Rossi, with support from the C&NN staff.