The San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative (SDCaN) is a group of about 60 local organizations that share a common concern that today’s children have less and less opportunity to experience nature. Knowing that children who learn and play in nature are happier, healthier and smarter, SDCaN works to preserve and expand access to nature experiences for all children in the San Diego region.  Together we’re investing in the future of our children and ensuring a healthier environment for current and future generations of San Diegans.
 
Founded in 2009, the mission of the Collaborative is to inspire communities to nurture, empower, and engage youth in cultivating their relationship with nature.  It brings the national Children & Nature Network movement to San Diego, inspired by “native son” columnist and author Richard Louv with his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, and building on successful programs in more than 60 cities, states, and countries. 

Research shows that children who learn in nature and play outdoors are happier, healthier, and smarter. 

Happier
To feel the sun and the rain on our skin, dig in the soil with our hands, hear crickets chirp and see birds soar, is to form a bond with other living things and the world we share. By venturing into “nearby nature,” children and families have opportunities to explore and learn while having fun and bonding.

Healthier
Nature is the ideal playscape for the climbing, running, pondering and wondering that are essential for healthy child development. Playing outdoors in nature is a high-touch alternative to a technology-saturated lifestyle. Children and families that connect with nature increase their mental and physical wellness and gain a sense of life balance.

Smarter
Nature is an outdoor classroom where children experience science, math, language and group learning by observing, touching, listening, smelling, telling and doing.

When children connect with nature, they also connect with each other, their families and the community as they learn that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Through their experiences in nature, they become more passionate stewards of the natural world.