White House “Invest in Nature” initiative and Summit

Sometimes the challenges of our work can be daunting. It helps to know others are coming alongside and investing in the cause. We got a big boost this spring as The White House recently rolled out their initiative “Invest in Nature,” demonstrating their commitment to getting children outside and connected to the natural world.

The initiative involves three areas:

• Ensuring more American workers have new, marketable skills for the growing nature-based economy

• Creating green learning environments and providing opportunities for youth to engage with nature every day

• Building resilient cities and communities through nature-based solutions

To support their Earth Day initiatives, they requested that organizations who support children in nature send a pledge demonstrating their commitment to this common goal. The Lower Columbia Nature Network submitted a pledge, found below, along with many other groups around the country.

“Nature has the power to protect us, to feed us and to help regulate the climate. It also holds the promise of keeping the skies cleaner, people healthier and families growing and thriving. Investing in nature will provide us opportunities for wildlife and habitat, for our security in the face of climate change, and for our health and well-being.”

— Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

Our colleage, Monica Lopez Magee from the Children & Nature Network attended the Invest in Nature Summit at the White House last month. Her reflections from her visit can be found here. If you would like to watch the full video of the Summit, click here.

Melanie Robinson from the National League of Cities, Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative pulled together many pledges from other large cities and shared her thoughts here. You can share your commitment with the White House through March 2024. Send to: NaturePolicies@ostp.eop.gov

Be encouraged that your work is supported from the highest levels of our government. Together we will improve the lives of children as they are increasingly more exposed to nature and it’s wonder.