Five Things I’ve Learned in Ten Years...Five Things I’ve Learned in Ten Years Author: Vang, Ana...

Faith Krogstad

Environmental Educat ion

Coordinator

C i ty of Saint Paul

SAINT PAUL

How can Saint Paul

better – and more equitably –

connect children to nature?

City of Saint Paul staff

Mayor’s Office

Parks and Recreation

Libraries

National Park Service

YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities

Community researchers

Our Team

What are the assets, gaps, opportunities, and

barriers?

Data dive

Out-of-School Time

surveys

Policy scan

Community research

into nearby nature

Planning Phase –

Community Assessment

Data Dive - Places

Data Dive - Programs

Environmental education Youth jobs corps Police

Data Dive - Partnerships

Big River Journey Urban Wilderness

Canoe Adventures

Data Dive - People

P(p)olicy Scan

Sidewalk Grid

Completion

Tree Replanting Plan

Out-of-School Time Survey

Highly variable across

sites

Interest in professional

development and

resources

Data Dive

Community Research

Interview questions:

What do you do outside?

Where do you go?

What do you like about it?

What would make it easier

to spend time outside?

If you could spend more

time outside, what would

you do?

Is there a place nearby

where you could do that?

Community Research

Four community researchers

• Hmong

• African-American

• Latina

• Youth

92 Interviews

• Semi-structured interviews

• 56% female, 44% male

• Mostly adults and teens

• Two neighborhoods

Used iPads or cell phones and

inexpensive lapel microphones

Key findings (barriers):

• Park maintenance

• Lack of awareness

• Reporting mechanisms

• Park rules

• Amenities

• Status (“private” park)

• Safety/security

• Presence or absence of police

• Racially -motivated bias

• Access to shade and water

• Incomplete sidewalk grid

• Crime & perceived safety

• Amenities mismatch

Community Research

Criteria

Community-derived

Built on strengths

Financially sustainable

Long-lasting

Equitable

Sizable impact

Implementation Plan

Implementation Phase

Improving Awareness of

Parks Rules, Amenities, &

Communications

Expanding the

NatureSmart Library

Program

Establishing a Day Camp

on the Mississippi River

Youth leadership

Community research

Grant writing

Event planning

New partnerships

Public Art Saint Paul

Expanded initiatives

NatureSmart Toolkit

Implementation (Un)Plan(ned)

QUESTIONS?

Faith KrogstadEnvironmental Education Coordinator

City of Saint Paul

faith.krogstad@ci.stpaul.mn.us