Mayor's Office of Education and Youth Engagement - Cities Connecting Children to Nature

Nature & Outdoor Education

Children across the country are losing their connection to nature, a separation that threatens their quality of life, health, and future of our city’s natural resources. The City of Houston is committed to providing opportunities for all children to connect with nature at an early age and build upon that connection throughout their lives. Increasing children’s connections to nature can help achieve this vision. Regular time spent playing and learning outside enhances children’s physical and mental health, social emotional skills, and academic outcomes—and inspires environmental stewardship.

Cities Connecting Children to Nature

Three CCCN Logos

In 2018, the National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network selected Houston as one of 18 U.S. cities to join the Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative. CCCN helps cities increase equitable access to nature to improve the well-being of children. Mayor John Whitmire envisions a future where all of Houston’s kids reach their full potential.

Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

As the fourth most populous city in the country, the City of Houston is mindful of its responsibility to lead the way in improving the well-being of children and increasing their access to nature. To demonstrate this commitment, the Houston Mayor’s Office of Education and Youth Engagement launched a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBOR), an initiative developed by the Cities Connecting Children to Nature program, a national partnership between the National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network.

An intergenerational committee of local youth and community leaders was convened to discuss the priority issue areas impacting nature accessibility in the Greater Houston area and determine the rights that would be included in the bill. The committee included a diverse range of voices and experiences, including local government leaders, nonprofit professionals, educators, researchers, and youth.

The COBOR is a list of outdoor experiences and activities each Houston child should have access to and establishes a common foundation and high aspirations for connecting our communities to nature. The bill was formally recognized through a Mayoral Proclamation on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, proclaiming the date "Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights" Day. The Houston COBOR believes children have the right to safe routes, access to shade, school grounds as green spaces, equitable park investments, youth participation and engagement, accessible for all abilities, climate resilience, mental health and wellness, native plants and wildlife, affordability, healthy air quality, and safety awareness. To pledge your support for the bill and receive a personalized certificate, visit tinyurl.com/HoustonCOBOR.

For more information about the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, please email cccn@houstontx.gov.

Click text links below to learn more about the benefits of these twelve rights and their impact on the City of Houston

Safe Routes