10K Fresh Voices | Introducing Kids To The Wonders Of The Natural World

For the past twenty years, Project Get Outdoors — or Project GO — has been dedicated to connecting children with the natural world.Based in Wabasha, Project GO’s mission is to use nature to build cognitive skills, spark creativity, and support overall health and wellbeing. The organization champions the Minnesota Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights and develops high-quality curriculum and programming designed to help young people form lasting relationships with the outdoors.Founder and program coordinator Sara Holger was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” She launched Project GO by creating an after-school program for migrant Latino youth in the small agricultural community of Plainview, Minnesota, offering students opportunities to explore nature that were largely unavailable to them.Today, Project GO has served more than 50,000 children who often lack access to traditional outdoor programs because of race or socio-economic barriers. Working with more than 50 community action groups across Minnesota, the nonprofit continues to connect young people with meaningful outdoor experiences, inspiring a sense of stewardship and helping them carry the benefits of time in nature into the future. KFAI's Alison Young went to check it out.This story was reported and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.