To Nature and to Nurture Ourselves

Green space, park access, and trees

Central LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

As far back as 1928, the idea that "City dwellers need above all things to renew frequently contact with soil and growing things; to engage in activities that are different from the daily routine of living and work...These and other forms of recreation go far toward making life worthwhile..." (Weir 1928). "At the turn of the century, urban parks were widely deemed representations of nature that... provided major benefits such as better public health and social cohesion..." (Wolch 2002). Yet, research has demonstrated that the LA needs: more green spaces, and equity in access to these places.
Based on the LA County Park Needs Assessment of 2016 and the follow-up report of 2022, the Westlake community has about .7 acres of park space per 1,000 residents. The County average is 3.3 acres. Conversely, 81% of the population within Westlake community are within 1⁄2 mile of some type of recreational facility. This means that there is a heavy pressure on the available parks in the area.

CNC's Emerging Naturalist "To nature and To nurture ourselves" themed program is an eight-week, youth-centered program focused on cultivating connections to nature, facilitating access to the outdoors, and supporting mental and physical health practices for wellbeing within outdoor spaces. It is an introductory program designed for high school youth (ages 13-16). This program will be a hybrid program with 2-hours of virtual subject learning meant to introduce a concept and 6-hours of in-person outdoor field trips and activities to local nature parks that support the wellness subject being practiced.
Each in-person session begins at the Vista Hermosa Nature Park, which is accessible and centrally located to all four schools being outreached. Each week provides a new theme or subject that build upon previous weeks work. In the past, our program themes have included teambuilding, community gardening, art in nature, native plant identification and ethnobotany, collective care, grounding-practices, environmental cycles, Indigenous cultural practices around wellness and environmental care, and restoration & community practices. The program concludes with a two-day, one night camping trip to an MRCA or CA State Park park.
All transportation, supplies, and camping gear are provided to all participants. All participants are provided a scholarship for completing the program.
CNC will conduct two cohorts over the grant period.

Northeast Los Angeles and Westlake youth who have participated in CNC's programs have regularly expressed in evaluation efforts and focus groups a fatigue, tiredness, and stress associated with the direct impacts of social and cultural issues, as well as the 'grind culture' of environmental/social justice activism. As such, CNC has been intentional in our programmatic work to identify and practice health equity and self-care as important a priority to focus on when fighting for one's community and rights. "To Nature and To Nurture Ourselves" is designed to support in youth a lifelong connection between the nature and the role it can play in our wellness practices. Our program supports youth to 1) discover a relationship with rest and being in nature, 2) understand the somatic benefits from being in nature, and 3) see themselves as the next generation of nature enthusiasts and community caretakers. It is our hope that this program can be modeled by others to support their youth members.