Connecting Kids with Nature to Make a Difference

The League of Environmental Educators in Florida (LEEF) has been near and dear to my heart for almost half of my life. I have volunteered for this organization in many ways over the years, helping with conferences, communications and have held multiple board positions. I am now fundraising to help keep LEEF viable and continuing to grow.  Next year LEEF celebrates 40 years! 

This year was full of promise and excitement for LEEF with bringing onboard our part-time director at the beginning of the year. Not long after, we had to postpone our annual conference due to the pandemic. We still made lots of strides moving forward, including starting a Speaker Series and other virtual events and look forward to replanning a conference for next spring. 

This is a critical time for our environment and for our organization.  We work to bring sound environmental education to all Floridians from early childhood education and continuing past post-secondary education. LEEF envisions a population that values the natural world and has the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions and take responsible actions. 

LEEF is one of the country’s oldest associations supporting environmental education, and is the state affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education. LEEF includes people from all walks of life—teachers, administrators, post-secondary students, government, business and industry representatives, and private citizens.

As an environmental educator for the greater part of my career, I know that connecting kids (of all ages) with nature is so important. More than ever, there is a great need for outdoor education in natural spaces, but many of those spaces are disappearing, becoming polluted or overrun with exotic species.

People these days have become disconnected with nature, but the overwhelming evidence proves that people need nature for their physical health and mental wellbeing. However, knowing how to cope and be comfortable in nature  does not come easy for people who have been alienated and disconnected most of their lives. They don't have the rich experiences of just playing and exploring outside like I did when I was a child. Most kids today can't identify common animals that they might encounter around their homes and many are afraid of butterflies.

Kids who don't value nature become adults who are not good stewards of it. A healthy and biodiverse natural environment is necessary for the well being of society. Nature is complex and has so many interconnections in the web of life.  A general understanding of its role and importance is necessary for our ever-increasing population. We need to protect the scaffolding of life to sustain us into the future.

Please give a gift that will  not only help make a difference in the lives of kids and adults, but in our Florida environment as well.