We came upon them in a clearing: six preschoolers and their teacher, gathered in a sun-dappled patch of woods at the Dodge Nature Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
One child swayed gently in a hammock strung between two trees, while others clambered over fallen trunks or crouched in the grass, deep in conversation. No desks. No screens. Just curiosity, connection, and the quiet joy that comes from learning and healing in rhythm with the outdoors.
It was a vivid reminder of what becomes possible when nature is treated not as extra, but essential. This spring, Blue Sky Funders Forum carried that vision into two gatherings: the inaugural Nature & Health Alliance Conference in Houston and the annual Children & Nature Network Conference in St. Paul. Each offered fertile ground for new ideas and deeper collaboration, reflecting the growing momentum to root nature in the systems that shape our daily lives, from health care to early childhood education.
In Houston, we partnered with the Nature & Health Alliance to connect with health funders, researchers, and advocates exploring nature as a public health intervention. We shared early narrative research from the next phase of our Rethink Outside initiative and invited participants to practice communicating in ways that resonate with the people they most hope to reach—whether policymakers, funders, or community leaders.
At the Children & Nature Network Conference, Blue Sky kicked off the week with a visit to Dodge Nature Center, one of the oldest nature-based preschools in the country. In partnership with the George B. Storer Foundation, we also co-hosted a funder briefing on outdoor early childhood education, where we heard from national leaders about what it will take to grow this work: clearer policies, stronger coalitions, and deeper investment in the educators tending to it every day.
Across both gatherings, we were reminded of a simple truth: what we pay attention to grows. Whether through the stories we elevate or the programs we invest in, philanthropy plays a critical role in ensuring the solutions our communities need can thrive. Especially as public funding continues to erode, now is the time to sustain and scale nature-based solutions that foster healthier communities. At Blue Sky and through Rethink Outside, we’re committed to helping this movement grow—by connecting aligned funders, strengthening narrative efforts, and supporting a future where nature is recognized as a foundation for health, learning, and belonging.
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Photos above from left to right: Play area at Dodge Nature Center, Onika (BSFF Executive Director) at a roundtable during the Nature and Health Alliance funder briefing, Site visit exploring the trails at the Dodge Nature Center.