What is a Natural Site?

Natural sites provide the outdoor space and raw materials for youth to explore and expand their comfort in and knowledge of the natural world. They are the places young people remember, the setting for encounters with nature that will touch them deeply.
A Natural site can be anywhere that will provide a safe and extraordinary experience for the young people, give them the opportunity to do a meaningful stewardship project within the context of hands-on learning, and provide the resources needed for a full day of activities.
For Learn About program days, the impression and physical layout of the place are very important, as is the opportunity to feel safe leaving their belongings out of their sight and experiencing themselves in a place where they don’t see any/many other people, don’t hear traffic or city noises, and can experience being in nature. Imagine the difference between the quiet calm of a pine forest and the excitement of a fast-flowing stream to a recovering stand of logged hardwoods, a pool full of salamanders, tadpoles, and fish to an invasive choked woodland pond.
For Stewardship program days, the opportunity to contribute meaningful work will be essential. Career bridging days require access to real-world situations in which the young people can learn and contribute.

Examples of an Ideal Site

• Land trust
• Land-based environmental education centers
• Conservation land
• State fish hatcheries
• Water reservoirs in forested areas
• Local or state parks
• Urban wilds
  

Characteristics of an Ideal Site

• A forested site with a significant diversity of habitat
• A water resource with instruction areas, stewardship opportunities, and an open area for gathering together
• A farm that allows for a interesting and beautiful walk-in, the opportunity to harvest some produce or milk a cow, and have an exciting first-time experience
  

Sites need to have:

• A healthy, diverse, inviting atmosphere

• Adequate parking

• An open area at the entrance

• A transition zone walk-in

• An Eagle’s Nest gathering area

• Bathroom

• Instruction areas

• Stewardship opportunities

• An area for recreation and fun

Benefits to Natural Site Hosts

• Opportunity to introduce the site to urban youth who may never have seen a forest, visited a farm, known about the water resource before
• Organization can educate a population that often has little contact with environmental organizations
• Organizations with a commitment to expanding environmental work can encourage urban young people and people of color to be involved in decisions regarding the environment
• Opportunity to introduce young people to rewarding careers in natural resource and environmental field
• The site will receive needed maintenance or other work and it is an opportunity to develop an on-going relationship with a youth organization come back, visit regularly and even volunteer to care for the site over time

Contact us to become a Champion!