Backup — original pdf

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Austin Public Library Nature Smart Libraries Initiative Cities Connecting Children to Nature January 27, 2025 Laura Tadena Community Engagement Librarian Nature Smart Library Strategy Chair Austin Public Library OVERVIEW Background and Overview of CCCN APL’s Nature Smart Library Initiative Future Plans & Opportunities CITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE (CCCN) AUSTIN Cities Connecting Children to Nature is a national initiative initiative that seeks to create more equitable and abundant access to nature in cities through a partnership between The National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the Children & Nature Network. CCCNS VISION AND MISSION Cities Connecting Children to Nature strives to ensure every child has access to and connection with nature every day. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE NATURAL SPACES WHERE THEY LIVE, LEARN, AND PLAY, WHICH FOSTERS LIFELONG BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATURE. CCCN COLLABORATES ACROSS INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS, AMPLIFYING EFFORTS, SHARING RESOURCES, AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS THAT DEEPEN OUR COLLECTIVE VISION AND ADVANCE OUR MISSION. CCCN AUSTIN: OUR EVOLUTION City adopts Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights & begins collection of nature deficient area data Four focal strategies with Outdoor Learning Environments (OLE!) Temp, Full-Time Coordinator position funded through WPD; FTE CCCN Program Coordinator position reclassified as Program Manager Critical look at integration of racial equity lens to all strategies; Integration into City-wide plans 2016 2018 2020 2022 2017 2019 2021 2023-PRESENT Austin receives strategic planning & implementation grant from CCCN Focus on Green School Parks, Nature Play, Youth Leadership & FTE CCCN Program Coordinator position through PARD Five focal strategies with addition of Nature Smart Libraries Temp, Full-Time Coordinator position becomes FTE, funded through WPD + PARD; Dedicated funding for Nature Play and Joint-Use sites in City Budget CCCN AUSTIN: 2022 ACCESS TO NATURE MAP ZIPCODE ANALYSIS: MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, CHILD POPULATION, INVERSE TREE CANOPY, WATERWAYS, & PARKLAND DISADVANTEGED ACCESS TO NATURE 5%-15% 16%-30% 31%-50% 50%-97% AUSTIN CHILDREN’S OUTDOOR BILL OF RIGHTS The Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBOR) illustrates what equitable access to nature should look like in Austin and establishes a common foundation and high aspirations for nature connection in the community. Austin City Council unanimously voted to pass the COBOR on January 26, 2017. Sign The Austin COBOR CCCN AUSTIN: FIVE STRATEGIES Nature Smart Libraries Early Childhood Emerging Green Leaders Green School Parks Nature Play NATURE SMART LIBRARIES EXPANDING CONNECTIONS TO NATURE Library Facilities Storywalks Programming FACILITIES AND SPACES Pollinator Gardens & Native Landscaping Outdoor learning and Discovery Areas Nature Play & Nature Pathways Green Infrastructure & Sustainable Design Eco-Centered Stations & Operations Eco-Friendly Indoor Exhibits and Features STORYWALKS 4 Permanent Story Structures: Millwood Pleasants Hill Willie Mae Kirk University Hills Future Expansions 3 additional Storywalk Structures Updates to create accessible pathways Landscape updates Temporary Storywalks for programming NATURE SMART LIBRARIES LIBRARY LOCATION GARDENS STORYWALKS FEATURES CENTRAL LIBRARY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHF CARVER BRANCH CEPEDA BRANCH HAMPTON BRANCH AT OAK HILL HOWSON BRANCH JOHN GILLUM BRANCH (NORTH VILLAGE) LITTLE WALNUT CREEK BRANCH MENCHACA ROAD BRANCH MILWOOD BRANCH OLD QUARRY BRANCH PLEASANT HILL BRANCH RECYCLED READS BOOKSTORE RUIZ BRANCH ST. JOHN BRANCH SOUTHEAST BRANCH SPICEWOOD SPRINGS BRANCH TERRAZAS BRANCH RECYCLED READS BOOKSTORE TWIN OAKS BRANCH UNIVERSITY HILLS BRANCH WILLIE MAE KIRK BRANCH WINDSOR PARK BRANCH YARBOROUGH BRANCH PATIO & ROOFTOP GARDEN BEDS POLINATOR POLINATOR POLINATOR X X X ABOVE GROUND OUTDOOR SEATING, GREEN SPACE POLINATOR - IN DEVELOPMENT X (BRAILE) GREEN SPACE OUTDOOR ART & GREEN SPACE OUTDOOR LEARNING AREA PATIO MURAL BIKE TRAIL HIKING TRAIL & PAVILION OUTDOOR SEATING COVERED PATIO GREEN SPACE WITH TREE CANOPY OUTDOOR ART & GREEN SPACE OUTDOOR SEATING & GREEN SPACE GREEN SPACE GREEN SPACE OUTDOOR SEATING & GREEN SPACE OUTDOOR SEATING & GREEN SPACE HISTORIC TEJANO TRAIL NATURE PLAY ALONG SHOAL CREEK ALONG TRAIL IMAGINATION STATION PROGRAMMING Year-round programming: Core-programming (storytimes, playtimes, book clubs) Signature & Heritage Month Programming Summer Programming Partner-led Programming: Outdoor and active programming (biking, yoga, scavenger hunts) Sustainable Living (gardening, composting, zero-waste) Outreach and pop-up services LOOSE PARTS NATURE PLAY: PROGRAMMING KIT Loose Parts Nature Play unstructured promotes creativity + imagination increases physical activity reduces stress + improves psychological well-being fosters critical thinking + decision making + appropriate risk taking cultivates connection to nature Unstructured play helps children learn about the world around them with no fixed instructions. PASSIVE PROGRAMMING: NATURE PLAY Creating play opportunities with nature indoors and outdoors. provides opportunities to explore nature in equitable ways Inspires Inquisitiveness Enhances Imaginative Play Provides sensory rich experiences EXPANDING EFFORTS: CURRENT PROJECTS Pollinator Gardens & Nature Play Installation of gardens at 2 branch locations - Ruiz and Cepeda Windsor Park on deck with update to existing landscape along Storywalk Accessibility updates to existing Storywalks Bringing nature play elements through Parks and Recreation Department Programming Partnerships: Food Forest Storytime Brings families out into nature when the library can’t provide the space Introduces food resources to families experiencing food insecurity Connects families to volunteer opportunities in nature Builds a more connected community EXPANDING EFFORTS: NATURE PLAY IN PRACTICE Future Grant funding to support expansion efforts: Staff Training Storywalk additions Programming Kits Programming funding Set up a space that invites play can be inside or outside nature items can be alongside other toys allow children time and space to play Watch the magic happen Expanding Efforts: Tracking and Reporting Streamline efforts to operationalize circulation of kits: Collaborative tracking and reporting system Shared inventory and processes for circulating kits Updates to create specialized loose parts kit (sensory, outdoor, learning, etc). RESOURCES For more research and resources, check out our Nature Smart Library book list! bit.ly/NatureSmartLibrary