The University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development works alongside youth and in partnership with communities to create a force of young people that learn and lead in a global society. Being in nature sparks curiosity while promoting learning that expands a young person’s ability to experience life in new ways. Building connections to nature benefits the whole child – interacting dimensions that are cognitive, physical, behavioral, social and emotional ways of being. Connections to nature also promote healthy lifestyles, mindful habits and a keen awareness of the importance of caring for the environment and respecting the natural world.