Articles


Can Design Help Kids Learn? April 2009
Learn how school designs and the physical building and the surroundings are being linked to curriculum at several innovative locations.
Spaces Places: Everyday Landmarks July 2008
“Spaces Places: Everyday Landmarks” is a 12-page workbook targeted at fifth graders that introduces students to the American Institute of Architects'(AIA) 10 Principles of Livable Communities. Upon completion of the workbook, developed by the AIA Minnesota Architecture in the Schools Committee, each student will have designed a school or community landmark.
Outdoor Education Resources from the Wisconsin DNR January 2008
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources continues Wisconsin's land stewardship tradition with environmental education resources for kids.
GIS Articles from eSchool News July 2007
eSchool News, a print and online news service that covers the use of technology in K-12 and higher education, has compiled a collection of news stories related to “geospatial learning” in the classroom.
Youth Voices in Community Design (A Civic Engagement Handbook) June 2007
The California Center for Civic Participation offers Youth Voices in Community Design, “a how-to guide on getting youth involved in local policymaking and community planning.”
A Kid's Guide to Building Great Communities May 2007
This publication from the Canadian Institute of Planners is a compilation of exercises that get kids thinking about their block, community, and the built environment in general.
National and Global Youth Service Day May 2007
National & Global Youth Service Day (N & GYSD) is the largest service event in the world, mobilizing millions of young people from the U.S. and abroad to identify and address the needs of their communities through service.
The 2004 Kid Friendly Cities Report Card March 2007
The 2004 Kid Friendly Cities Report Card is a national study by Population Connection (formerly Zero Population Growth) that covers the 100 largest cities in the United States.
Tips for Building Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships March 2007
Whether working on a service-learning project, bringing young people onto the school board, or embarking on any other project where youth and adults are collaborating, building effective youth-adult partnerships is key!
National Geographic Little Kids February 2007
National Geographic Little Kids (which is both a print magazine and a website) is tailored to 3- to 6-year-olds and their parents
Project WET: Water Stewardship February 2007
Project WET publishes water education materials and lesson plans that encourage water resources stewardship in young people.
Acorn Naturalists: An Extensive Environmental Education Catalogue February 2007
Acorn Naturalists offers a wealth of environmental education publications and training for teachers, naturalists, interpreters, parents, and many others.
Saving Historic Neighborhood Schools February 2007
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is working to save historic neighborhood schools at a time when more and more are in danger of being abandoned.
Bridging the Generation Gap and Other Planning Resources January 2007
MIG Communications has a number of publications that deal with planning and city design issues, such as accessibility for persons with disabilities, universal design, the environmental schoolyard, street games, playgrounds, plants and wildlife, and more.
Center for Ecoliteracy: Resources for Healthy and Sustainable Living January 2007
The Center for Ecoliteracy has many detailed resources that provide well-rounded solutions to address environmental, educational, and children's health issues all at once.
Green Teacher: An Environmental Education Publication January 2007
Green Teacher is a "magazine that helps youth educators enhance environmental and global education inside and outside of schools."
Sustainability Education Programs and Publications from the Izaak Walton League January 2007
The Izaak Walton League, one of the nation's earliest conservation organizations, has conservation programs that guide their many publications and activist training.
Teaching Kids about Planning: An APA Publication December 2006
"Teaching Kids about Planning," an APA publication from the 1990s, is still a useful guide for planners today.
Youth-Adult Partnerships: A Training Manual December 2006
The Innovation Center for community and youth development has a training manual for “unleashing the potential of both young people and adults” based on mutual respect and trust.
Study Review: Urban Youth Programs in America November 2006
The success stories of low-income and minority youth transforming the deplorable urban communities where they live is eloquently reported in this new study.
Young People Solving Community Problems August 2005
Generation Fix: Young Ideas for a Better World shares stories of ordinary kids doing extraordinary things to make their world a better place.
New Community Change Guides from the Search Institute August 2005
The asset-building Search Institute, which provides resources to promote youth leadership, has two new publications of interest to community stakeholders who envision thriving young people.
Children, Youth, and Environments: An Online Journal August 2005
Children, Youth and Environments (CYE) is an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal hosted by the University of Colorado.
Two Useful Publications on Youth Engagement March 2004
"Building an Effective Citizenry: Lessons Learned" and "Community Change for Youth Development: Ten Lessons From the CCYD Initiative"
Youth Organizing Guidebook January 2004
This 90-page guidebook captures lessons learned from around the country regarding how to more effectively integrate the youth voice into community and grassroots organizational decision making.
Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit January 2004
The design of the ESD Toolkit is based on the idea that communities and educational systems need to dovetail their sustainability efforts to achieve and reinforce local sustainability goals.
Stories as Means of Engaging Youth in Community Change October 2003
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation offers a workbook with hands-on strategies to inspire youth and engage them in community development and improvement efforts.
Discovering Chicago's Amazing Architecture April 2003
Chicago's amazing architecture is the vehicle for the Chicago Architecture Foundation's curriculum, “Schoolyards to Skylines.”
Young Americans Express Growing Interest in Government Service July 2002
In a new survey, 40% of young adults say that a career in government is appealing to them, compared with 35% in a similar survey in 1997.
Building Community Tool Kit July 2002
The Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development has created the Building Community Tool Kit with detailed activities, tips, stories, handouts, and resources to plan for positive community change and build partnerships between young people and adults.
The Youth Power Guide: How to Make Your Community Better April 2001
Since the mid-1990s, El Arco Iris Youth and Community Arts Center has run the YouthPower Project in South Holyoke, Massachusetts. The YouthPower Guide describes many of YouthPower's most successful planning activities and explains how others can apply them in their neighborhoods.
Science and Environmental Education Readings January 2000
Youth! The 26% Solution (Class Notes) December 1998
“Youth! The 26% Solution,” published by the Activism 2000 Project, reveals how young activists have persuaded decision-makers to listen to their innovative solutions.