Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature
Governor O'Malley Kicks Off The Stream Restoration Challenge
New
grant program open to local governments, schools
and NGOs
On August 6, 2012, Governor Martin O'Malley kicked off the Stream Restoration Challenge. The challenge is a new grant program where the State and its partners plan to establish 1,000 acres of forested stream buffers by 2015. The program-open to local governments, school systems and non-governmental organizations-will provide up to $6 million over the next three years to help to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality and create service learning and environmental literacy activities for students.
The deadline to submit proposals is October 31, 2012. The Request for Proposals and additional resources are available online. Click here to view the full press release.
Health Forum Meeting Notes
On behalf of the Partnership for Children in Nature, thank you for your interest in children’s health issues in Maryland. These notes are a result of the interactive discussion we had at the Health Forum on June 13, 2012 at the Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, MD. The Partnership has begun to prioritize actions and will be reaching out to stakeholders for help in creating an action plan for moving forward. This was a great first conversation among Maryland’s stakeholders, and we look forward to collaborating with you in the near future. Read more...
16 Organizations Partner to Expand Opportunities for Children in Nature
In a new effort supporting Governor Martin O’Malley’s Children in Nature (CIN) initiative, 16 state, federal, county and private organizations are coming together to improve and expand opportunities for children to learn about, play in and experience our natural world. The new public-private effort, which officially re-establishes the Governor’s Partnership for Children in Nature, will be responsible for putting the state’s CIN plan into action. Read more...
Nature Play Spaces
When was the last time you or your child balanced on a tree log, or jumped off a rock?
There are new nature play spaces popping off all over Maryland at local and State parks, schools and public spaces.
Explore them for yourself in the new Nature Play Spaces Pattern Book.
The Nature Play Space “Pattern Book” is a visual tool used to convey the concept of creating play areas with natural components. These areas provide an early connection for children with nature, an opportunity for both physical and creative play and support children’s physical, intellectual, and emotional development. This on-line tool provides not only a map of where some nature play spaces can be found in Maryland, but allows the user to navigate through a list of components and activities that are typically found in a nature play space such as climbing, hiding and balancing.
By showing some on the ground examples, the Partnership for Children in Nature and DNR hope to spur creativity and inspire the development of nature play spaces across the state, providing an alternative to standard metal and plastic playgrounds. Check the site often, as new images and information will be added often!
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/cin/nps/
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's Initiative
The Partners
Environmental Literacy in Schools – Information and Resources
The Partnership's Work
- Report & Recommendations
- 10 Recommendations
- Executive Summary
- 2012 Action Plan
- 2012 Action Plan Highlights
- 2012 Partnership Agreement
- 2010 State Work Plan
- Progress Reports
Future Meetings:
Wednesday, April 25, 2013 (Please note time change)
Location: Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Main Headquarters in Druid Hill Park, 3001 East Drive, Baltimore 21217
Full Partnership Meeting
2:00 – 4:00 pm Main Meeting, in the Peach Room (the meeting is open to anyone free of charge)
Extra Session
4:15 – 5:15 pm Extra Session (educational), in the beautiful Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park, walking distance from the meeting room
Please address questions to Britt Slattery, bslattery@dnr.state.md.us.
An agenda and more information on the extra session will be distributed approximately 1 week prior to the meeting.
The Greater Baltimore Children And Nature Forum
5:30 pm - Doors open for sign-in and meet & greet, in the Peach Room
6:00 – 9:00 pm - Forum (see flyer for information on presentations)
9:00 pm - Optional full moon hike in the park!
$10 fee—cash or check – Light supper provided
RSVP for the GBCAN Forum to Mary Hardcastl: mary.hardcastle@baltimorecity.gov or 410-396-7020
Please mark your calendars for the additional 2013 Partnership meetings:
Thursday, April 25 – Partnership quarterly meeting, 2:00 p.m.. – 4:00 pm, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Main Headquarters in Druid Hill Park, 3001 East Drive, Baltimore 21217
Thursday, July 18 – Partnership quarterly meeting, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00, location TBA
Thursday, October 17 – Partnership quarterly meeting AND Leadership Team meeting, times and location TBA
Agendas and Documents
January 16, 2013 - Partnership Meeting
October 18, 2012 - Partnership Meeting
July 19, 2012 - Partnership Meeting
April 19, 2012 - Partnership Meeting
January 19, 2012 - Partnership Meeting
October 24, 2011 - Partnership Meeting
July 28, 2011 - Partnership Meeting
April 28, 2011 - Partnership Meeting
March 16, 2011 - Partnership Meeting
September 16, 2010 - Partnership Meeting
May 12, 2010 - Partnership Meeting
February 18, 2010 - Partnership Meeting
November 10, 2009 - Partnership Meeting
August 21, 2009 - Partnership Meeting
February 26, 2009 - Partnership Meeting
January 26, 2009 - Partnership Meeting
December 19, 2008 - Partnership Meeting
November 26, 2008 - Partnership Meeting
Development of the Children In Nature Plan
Community and Public Lands Workgroup
Environmental Literacy Workgroup
Contact Us
Governor Martin O'Malley, Congressman John Sarbanes, Superintendent Dr. Nancy Grasmick and Secretary John R. Griffin kick off the Partnership for Children in Nature.
On August 20th, we kicked off the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature with a rally hosted by the No Child Left Inside Coalition that included more than 150 students, educators and business leaders. During the rally, we introduced the program's 21-member board, who we have tasked with finding creative ways to enable children throughout our State to get outside and learn about nature and make environmental literacy a part of every curriculum.
This important effort will be chaired by our Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick, as well as our Department of Natural Resources Secretary John R. Griffin. At the federal level Congressman John Sarbanes, who sponsored No Child Left Inside, has also been a vital partner in this effort.
- Governor Martin O'Malley
BayStat Newsletter, August 2008
