Dubuque, Iowa selected as a Nature Everywhere Community in national initiative to increase equitable access to nature
Dubuque, Iowa has been selected through a competitive application process to join a national initiative called Nature Everywhere Communities, designed to increase equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play.
Nature Everywhere Communities is a partnership of the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities and KABOOM! that is working with cross-sector teams in more than 70 other communities across the U.S. Dubuque plans to address climate resiliency issues while expanding access to nature-based experiences for young children and their families. The project team, spearheading the Nature Everywhere Community in Dubuque, will receive a year of strategic planning, technical support and start-up funding to develop and implement community-driven plans to support early childhood and climate resiliency efforts. Additionally, the group has chosen to work through the Dubuque Forward umbrella to generate input and feedback, build engagement in the project, and grow capacity for the group's efforts and long-term outcomes.
Dubuque demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and climate resiliency. They also bring a cross-sector team dedicated to early childhood education and healthy development,” said Sarah Milligan-Toffler, President and CEO of the Children & Nature Network. “This team has the potential to implement strategies to connect young children to nature while also addressing issues of climate resiliency as outlined in the city’s Climate Action plan. This is a very exciting opportunity for Dubuque’s children and families.”
Debi Butler, President of the Mississippi Driftless Regional Alliance and Dubuque Forward Board, added, “It’s amazing for Dubuque to be selected for this initiative, which will significantly enhance our efforts to make Dubuque the most inspiring city of its size and ensuring a positive environment for our future leaders - our children.”
A growing body of evidence indicates that spending time outdoors, in nature, is essential for children’s healthy development. Time in nature improves physical and brain health, academic outcomes and social-emotional learning. Equitable access to nearby nature-filled spaces and outdoor learning and play helps young children and families thrive – and can support community-wide sustainability, climate resilience, and public health goals.
“Dubuque is a place rooted in and proud of our history, we are dedicated to each other, to equity, to proven partnership work, and to our continued growth as a community,” said Jared McGovern, Director of The Wanderwood Gardens. “With the guidance of the Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities, and Kaboom! as well as our peers and neighbors, we will leverage the progress we have already made around early childhood and nature access and inspire a movement in Northeast Iowa and beyond. The timing is right for Dubuque to build upon this momentum and embed early childhood nature connection into the fabric of our community.”
The city-wide commitment as a project team to early childhood nature connections and climate resiliency is evident in the members of Dubuque’s Nature Everywhere Community team. The team consists of leaders from The Wanderwood Gardens, St. Mark Youth Enrichment, Hills & Dales, Dubuque Community School District and the City of Dubuque. This cross-sector leadership team brings a diverse set of expertise and knowledge. Through their collaboration as a project team under Dubuque Forward, the team hopes to maximize access to local resources, and advocate for and collaborate to achieve shared goals related to children’s healthy development and climate resiliency.
“Dubuque is excited to learn from Nature Everywhere experts and from the other cities in the peer network to advance changes across our city that prioritize access to nature’s proven benefits for our youngest community members and their caregivers,” said Danielle Willis, Director of Early Childhood with St. Mark Youth Enrichment. “We plan to engage a diverse group of local professionals, trusted community advocates, and neighbors in activating Dubuque’s system of neighborhood parks and neighborhood schools, reflecting the needs of the residents living in these neighborhoods, and to do so through the lens of early childhood nature connection.”
As a first step, the Dubuque team joined other communities for a Nature Everywhere Vision Lab in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 28 - 29, to explore proven nature connection strategies and connect with technical assistance experts from the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities, and KABOOM!. Over the next year, the Dubuque team will:
- Engage youth and community residents in creating a vision for increasing equitable access to nature
- Map community stakeholders, assets and gaps
- Conduct funding and policy scans
- Build and deepen regional partnerships
- Develop and begin implementing an early childhood nature connection action plan
Throughout the process, Dubuque and other Nature Everywhere community teams will have access to a national peer learning network; technical assistance; case-making research; resources, case studies and planning tools; seed grants of up to $40,000; and eventually, access to larger competitive catalytic grants for implementation. Nature Everywhere partners (Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities, and KABOOM!) will also help communities track outcomes and communicate the impact of their work both locally and nationally.
For more information about the Dubuque Nature Everywhere team, contact Jared McGovern, Director, The Wanderwood Gardens, jared@wanderwoodgardens.com.
For more information about the Nature Everywhere initiative, visit childrenandnature.org/nature-everywhere, and/or contact Laura Mylan, Children & Nature Network, laura@childrenandnature.org.
About the Leadership Cohort
- Jared McGovern. Director of The Wanderwood Gardens. Coming in 2026, The Wanderwood Gardens is a 2.5 acre magical forest of make believes and discovery where adventurers of all ages can explore, play, find joy and inspiration in nature. Jared has extensive experience in environmental education and interpretation leadership having worked for multiple states and numerous non-profit education centers in multiple community engagement capacities over the past 20 years.
- Danielle Willis. Director of Early Childhood with St. Mark Youth Enrichment. St. Mark is a non-profit organization that has more than 35 years of experience providing children academic and social emotional learning. Danielle has 20 years of early childhood experience, helping families understand the importance of social and emotional well-being and the many ways nature can help play a role. Danielle is leading the expansion into a nature focused early childhood education center opening in Fall, 2025.
- Deanne Althoff. Mission Advancement and Community Relations Director with Hills & Dales. Hills & Dales has been both a local and regional leader of disability services for both children and adults for over 50 years, with a current significant focus on autism services. Deanne has been with Hills & Dales for 20 years in a leadership role. Through strong community relationships with like-minded industry partners, Deanne will help ensure young children with various abilities and sensory needs have equitable access to nature.
- Marie Ware. City of Dubuque Leisure Services Director. Marie oversees Dubuque’s parks and recreation amenities and understands the importance of connecting children to nature. Marie has 39 years experience building partnerships, implementing systems change strategies, facilitating broad community input and planning, and acting on needs identified.
- Lisa Feltes. Executive Director of Elementary Education for the Dubuque Community School District, Superintendent's Office. Lisa has served as an educator for 33 years through various roles. In these roles, Lisa has worked with curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and instruction. Completing this work with evidence and research-based strategies through a holistic approach and developmental practices. A passion for growing relationships, love of learning, and contributing to the positive impact on children have been the foci of Lisa’s decisions and practices. Lisa works with several community partners in collaboration to bring access and opportunities to children and their families.
About the Children & Nature Network
The Children & Nature Network believes, and research proves, that regular time outdoors is essential for children’s healthy development. The non-profit organization leads a global movement of leaders, educators, practitioners and parents working to ensure equitable access to the benefits of nature everywhere children live, learn and play. Learn more at childrenandnature.org and get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and The Trailhead, a free online community for global children and nature leaders.
About the National League of Cities
The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. NLC’s Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development is the go-to place for city leaders and their partners seeking to improve outcomes for children and families. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.