Nurturing teachers, safe facilities, engaging activities — these are what most people think about when they think of high-quality early care and education (ECE).
What about access to nature?
Today, LIIF was honored to host Mayor Daniel Lurie, Supervisor Chyanne Chen, San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC), SF Children in Nature and other partners for the Connecting Children To Nature ribbon-cutting of seven natural outdoor play spaces, including three child care centers and four family child care homes across San Francisco. These spaces include new trees, gardens, climbing logs, sand and gravel pits, mud kitchens and natural loose parts for creative play. Funding also comes from the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund.
The Connecting Children to Nature program, created by LIIF with funding from DEC and in collaboration with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and SF Children & Nature, works with municipal leaders and community partners to support early childhood programs across the city, helping renovate and create more nature-rich outdoor spaces, especially for children living in low-income communities where access to parks is limited.
This impactful project was funded through LIIF’s Connecting Children to Nature grant, which includes a one-year intensive professional development and coaching program for teachers on best practices in nature-based early childhood education, preparing them to lead meaningful outdoor learning experiences.
ECE Deputy Director, San Francisco Liz Winograd (photo, to right of Mayor Lurie, who is cutting ribbon) gave a speech touting this program’s many successes across the city’s 49 square miles.
Read the KTVU article.
Read the San Francisco Children and Nature article.
Read the San Francisco Recreation and Parks press release.
This project stands as a powerful testament to collaboration and community engagement. By creating healthier outdoor spaces, we’ve not only provided children with opportunities to connect deeply with nature, but also supported teachers in fostering learning environments where children can truly thrive. We are proud to have played an instrumental role in this important work.”
LIIF ECE Deputy Director, San Francisco Liz Winograd