The purpose of the Nebraska Environmental Literacy Plan is to develop a comprehensive strategy, linked with state educational standards and curricula, to provide youth with structured and unstructured opportunities for play, outdoor recreation, learning and scientific study. The plan recommends steps that the State of Nebraska must take to ensure that Nebraska’s children have the opportunity to connect with nature and grow to become informed and responsible stewards of our environment.

Recognizing the urgency in ensuring that Nebraska’s young people have the opportunity to connect with nature and grow to become informed and responsible stewards of our environment, the Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environment Education (NACEE) created a workgroup of stakeholders to develop a plan to provide youth with structured and unstructured opportunities for play, outdoor recreation, learning and scientific study through an environmental literacy plan. The workgroup’s vision was to create a plan that will foster environmental literacy and a culture of conservation and land stewardship for Nebraska residents and their children. The goals, strategies and visions outlined in this report suggest significant changes for Nebraska’s schools and communities, children and families. They are changes that, if implemented, will mark a pivotal moment in time for education, environmental stewardship and the ability of Nebraska’s young people to personally connect with nature in ways that promote mental, emotional and physical health and well being throughout their lives.