KAEE and Children & Nature Network Host Nature-Based Early Childhood Legislative Tour

On November 10th, KAEE and the Children & Nature Network (C&NN) hosted a bipartisan group of Kentucky legislators and partners for a field tour showcasing three nature-based early childhood programs: Thrive Forest Preschool, Trinity House Child Care, and the Sankofa programming at Chickasaw Park. The experience offered legislators a firsthand look at how outdoor, nature-based learning supports child development and strengthens the early care ecosystem—while also surfacing the regulatory barriers preventing these programs from fully operating under Kentucky’s current licensing framework.

Attending lawmakers included Rep. Vanessa Grossl (R), Speaker David Osborne (R), Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton (D), Rep. Daniel Grossberg (D), and Sen. Lindsey Tichenor (R), along with Rina Gratz of the Prichard Committee. Each participant had the opportunity to meet children, educators, and directors in action. Seeing the students outdoors—problem-solving, collaborating, exploring with confidence, and forming deep connections to place—was one of the most impactful aspects of the visit. Many legislators remarked that these strengths are difficult to convey on paper but unmistakable when observed in person.

Throughout the day, providers shared a consistent message: current licensing regulations were not designed with outdoor or nature-based settings in mind, leaving innovative programs without a viable pathway to offer full-time care or serve families relying on subsidies. This not only constrains access for families but also limits the state’s ability to address the significant early childcare shortage facing Kentucky.

The field trip clearly demonstrated how nature-based programs can expand childcare capacity, improve children’s physical and emotional health, and strengthen economies through increased access to care. Legislators were able to connect the benefits they observed directly to the need for legislative action. The discussion reinforced the importance of the bill we are developing with Representative Vanessa Grossl and the C&NN to establish a defined, supportive licensing pathway for nature-based early childhood programs.

David Beard, Children and Nature Network; Speaker David Osborne (R); Rep. Vanessa Grossl (R); and Ashley Hoffman, KAEE

The bipartisan engagement and enthusiasm generated during the tour showed that this is a practical, evidence-driven solution that has been successful in other states. The visits underscored that updating Kentucky’s licensing framework is not only feasible—it is necessary to give communities more childcare options and allow programs like these to flourish.

We look forward to building on the momentum from this visit and advancing this legislation in the upcoming legislative session.

To learn more and get involved, visit kaee.org/early-childhood.

The Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership relaunches their Policy Playbook

The Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership has relaunched its Outdoor Policy Playbook. 

NCEL hosted a panel to discuss the relaunch and benefits of the Policy Playbook. In the webinar below, you’ll learn about the latest state-level policy updates, winning coalition-building strategies, and exciting new success stories with a panel of youth outdoor policy leaders.

Panel participants included Ashley Hoffman, KAEE Executive Director, and KY State Representative Josie Raymond discussing the work of the partnership that has taken place this year.

The Playbook is a tool to help legislators and community leaders advance state policies that expand outdoor opportunities for young people. New features of the playbook include policy trends, community organization spotlights, and current bill tracking. 

On the new bill tracking page, you can see current environmental bills by state or issue area. When you click on Kentucky, you can learn about House Bill 423, the nature-based childcare bill discussed in the webinar, and other environmental bills currently in the legislature.

The Playbook also offers an annual trend report and a resource center.

About the Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership

The Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership is a partnership of four organizations: 

The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

A nationwide network of lawmakers that is a resource of all things environmental. The NCEL works to connect lawmakers with peers across the country and connect with subject-matter experts. 

Children and Nature Network

A global movement of leaders working to turn the trend of an indoor childhood back out to the benefits of nature—and to make sure that all children have equitable access to outdoor spaces where they can learn, play and grow.

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

For more than five decades, NAAEE has promoted excellence in environmental education throughout North America and the world. They are dedicated to strengthening the field of environmental education and increasing the visibility and efficacy of the profession.

Nuestra Tierra

Their mission is to ensure that historically and deliberately excluded communities have access to the outdoors and that their history, values, and people are authentically reflected in public land and water management decisions.

You can learn more about the Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership and team on their website.

Two of KAEE's Kentucky Green Schools named U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

Two of KAEE's Kentucky Green Schools, Robert D. Johnson Elementary in Ft. Thomas and Arlington Elementary in Fayette County, were recognized as 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. Robert D. Johnson Elementary also won the 2023 KAEE Outstanding PreK-12 School Award.  

The Green Ribbon Schools award goes to schools that focus on three pillars:

• Reducing environmental impact and cost

• Improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and

• Providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates STEM, civic skills and green career pathways.

The Kentucky Environmental Education Council nominated both schools. KEEC’s announcement listed among the schools’ accomplishments:

• Johnson Elementary is committed to providing project-based learning opportunities focused on environmental education for students at every grade level, including motivating and educating the school population about recycling and composting, using biomimicry to solve environmental problems, and creating structures that provide shade for animals. Watch a video about their recycling efforts.

• Arlington Elementary uses its school garden as a living laboratory for students to gain a hands-on environmental education. Students explore seeds, animal habitats, and the butterfly life cycle through hands-on work in the garden. The garden is fertilized by one of the only school-wide, student-run composting programs in Fayette County Public Schools.

Both schools also participate in KAEE’s Kentucky Green Schools Program, which is designed to inspire students to develop environmentally friendly behavior and to feel empowered to take active steps toward creating a greener and healthier world—starting with their local environment at school.

You can find a list of all Green Ribbon schools on the U.S. Department of Education website. Visit KEEC’s website to learn more about the program and how to nominate a Green Ribbon school for next year. 

Know a person or organization who is making a difference in environmental education in Kentucky? The KAEE Excellence in EE Awards recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations, agencies, community efforts, schools, and businesses in the field of environmental education (EE). KAEE is now accepting award nominations for 2024.