Founded in 2017, Thrive Outside is on a mission to provide every child, especially those with the least opportunity, with a joyful connection to our natural world through Outdoor Learning Zones (OLZ), outdoor education training, and free nature-based community events.Childhood experts consider connection to nature to be critical for healthy social, emotional, intellectual and physical development, yet kids today are being deprived of this connection.Lack of access to natural environments, dependence on screens, and over-structured school days and after-school activities are decreasing time in nature for children, particularly those who are disadvantaged. 74% of communities of color and 70% of low-income communities in the U.S. live in nature-deprived areas (The Center for American Progress & The Hispanic Access Foundation). On average, children spend less than 10 minutes a day outdoors and 44 hours a week on screens (Children & Nature Network).Thrive Outside is taking action for equity where education, health and the environment intersect, with a three-fold solution:1) partner with schools, libraries and community centers to design and implement dynamic, onsite OLZ, bringing usable, natural spaces to their doorstep 2) integrate outdoor learning into curriculums, programs and school days by providing outdoor education training to educators and 3) provide free community events, after school programs and workshops aimed at connecting kids and caregivers to nature.