From NAAEE:

Dear EE Advocates,

I am excited to share with you the newly launched Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook, now available online at youthoutdoorpolicy.org. The Playbook is a tool to help legislators and community leaders like you advance youth-centered state policies for outdoor education and engagement. It highlights existing and promising policy solutions, provides a platform for sharing and advancing new ideas, and connects cross-sector leaders working on statewide policy initiatives.

To develop the Playbook, we tapped the collective expertise and resources of NAAEE, the Children & Nature Network, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL). These partners shared their knowledge of existing policies as well as emerging initiatives that connect kids to the outdoors, environmental education, and nature-based learning opportunities.

The Playbook is guided by a Policy Framework that outlines shared values, key principles and innovative statewide policy strategies for increasing youth outdoor engagement. You’ll find inspirational case studies--such as the Maryland Green Schools Act and Oregon’s Outdoor School for All--supporting research, a bill library, and more.

If you are aware of additional state policy ideas that should be included, please email them to Robyn Paulekas (rpaulekas@merid.org). We will continue to curate the best thinking, planning and youth outdoor policy leadership. Additionally, if you have ideas for ways that NAAEE can continue to support advocates like you in advancing state policy, please reach out to me at any time.