I've been a big fan of Minnesota's No Child Left Inside program ever since I first heard Jamie Becker-Finn talk about HF133 back in 2019. While my own childhood growing up near St. Peter by a lake and Minnesota River Valley woods--and an organic micro-farming father who knew a lot about geology and nature as well as fishing and hunting--provided a good foundation for enjoying the outdoors, not all kids have that opportunity.
Thus, I appreciated this passage in Roy Heilman's column in the Mankato Free Press, DNR roundtable features more questions than answers:
A week ago Friday, it was my pleasure to cover everything pertaining to fisheries at the 2022 DNR Roundtable for Minnesota Outdoor News. . . .
At lunch, I happened to pick a seat across from Amber Kastner, Outreach Grants Specialist, who works with the No Child Left Inside program. She told me (then, and in a follow-up call) a bit about it.
It started with an allocation by the legislature of $900,000 with the goal of reaching youth populations that wouldn’t normally have access to the outdoors. NCLI is meant to use existing infrastructure like state and local parks to achieve those goals (rather than build something new), and grant funds have been distributed around the state based on population.
The first $900k was awarded in two phases, and included a couple of projects in the Mankato area. The program was renewed with another $450k in a subsequent legislative session.
When Kastner mentioned that one of the local grantees was Grass & Roots Outdoors of St. Peter, my ears perked up.
Grass & Roots Outdoors [link added] was founded in 2021 by Trish Hiscock-Austin, who serves as Lead Outdoor Educator and Program Director. The non-profit “is centered in youth development and engaged environmental stewardship, with community-building at the core,” and has built up steam rather quickly.
Hiscock-Austin also happens to be a high school and college classmate of mine (fellow Scarlet and Gustie, respectively), so I was eager to arrange a phone call ASAP.
She told me Grass & Roots began in 2021 with outdoor nature play, engaging children of different age groups. However, a problem was immediately evident: most of the kids who signed up were already connected to the outdoors.
When it came to including the ones who weren’t, there were barriers— like transportation.
“That was a wake up call that we have a lot of work to do,” Trish explained. “That’s fueled a lot of the momentum over the last year … expanding our work to include all kids. No Child Left Inside is intended to do just that — connect kids to outdoor opportunities. It’s an exciting way to do things.”
Now, Grass & Roots is able to offer transportation as part of the program. It may sound simple, but it has opened up some kids’ worlds. Trish gave the example of those who live in St. Peter but had never been to 7 Mile Creek Park, “only five minutes from their house.”
Earlier this week, she took a busload of kids to Cedar Crate Farm [link added] outside Waldorf, where they learned about water, weather, natural resources and generally where food comes from. Even the ride to and from the farm was an opportunity for kids to see what lies beyond the city limits, ask questions and begin forming an understanding of the natural world.
All made possible by the stroke of a pen.
Okay, it might not be that simple, but it bears mentioning that No Child Left Inside was not brought to a vote in the recently concluded legislative session. While I’ve been assured that NCLI will continue to seek additional opportunities at future legislative sessions, it must come as a disappointment to organizations around the state that would have applied for grants to connect kids to the outdoors. . . .
That's doubly sad, since the environment and natural resources conference committee did come to an agreement, though the agreement wasn't brought to a vote. The conference committee report can be read here.
Here's the language:
(n) $600,000 the second year is from the general fund for grants for natural-resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.976.
In 2019 Minnesota Statue 84.976 authorized NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE funding; the latest version, 2021, can be read here.
It's frustrating to think about how kids from my old hometown might not have the opportunities this program provides--all because of political positioning in advance of an election. It's not just special session talks collapsing, folks.
Photo: Kids exploring a river sand bar, via Grass & Roots Outdoors. My siblings and I spent a lot of time with our dad, hunting agates and geodes along the Minnesota and Blue Earth River, as well as foraging; unfortunately, many families don't have that opportunity.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.
I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6
Comments