The Nature Explorer Backpack/Mochilas de Explorador Project
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Brushwood Center and partners across Lake County are teaming up to provide 1,200 bilingual Nature Explorer Backpacks / Mochilas de Explorador to youth and family members in Waukegan, North Chicago, Round Lake, and Highwood. The Backpack Project, which began in 2020 as part of Brushwood Center’s COVID-19 response, provides families with tools for supporting physical and mental health amidst Lake County’s parks, preserves, and other natural areas. This year, the backpacks will be distributed at locally-organized events where families can engage in hands-on activities and nature walks, learn how to use the materials in the backpacks, and gain confidence using the tools and visiting nature spaces.
The 2023's backpacks include a community health- focused activity book titled Find Yourself Outside inspired by the findings of the newest report from the Health, Equity and Nature Accelerator: Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, IL. They also include nature field guides, art supplies, local mental health resources, school supplies, and water bottles, lip balm, and sunscreen. The water bottles, lip balm, and sunscreen were graciously donated by Backcountry this year. Thank you Backcountry for this contribution! All materials in the backpacks are provided in English and Spanish. The backpacks encourage families to explore the natural spaces around them through activities focused on connection, mindfulness, and creativity. |
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Project History
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The Nature Explorer Backpacks / Mochilas de Explorador Project is a part of Brushwood Center’s It’s A W.I.N (Art and Wellness in Nature) program serving families from overburdened households in Waukegan, North Chicago, Round Lake, and Highwood. These communities were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing disproportionately higher cases and deaths from COVID-19, more severe financial tolls, and significant mental health challenges.
The Backpack Project began in the spring of 2020, as a result of Brushwood Center’s partners indicating a need for supplies and activities for families during the lockdown. Many of these families had to make difficult decisions when it came to budgeting, and purchasing supplies like backpacks became an extra burden. The backpacks alleviated some financial burden and provided nature and art resources to help families access the health benefits that come with spending time outside and exploring creative outlets. Thank you to our 2023 distribution partners! *Highwood Library | June 17th 1-3pm Round Lake Library Waukegan Public Library *Warren Newport Library | July 29th 11am-1pm North Chicago Library Round Lake Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Cool Learning Experience Mano A Mano Back to School Resource Fair *Indicate a public event - join us! |
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How it Works:
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Partnership Coordination: Brushwood Center, who currently Chairs the Lake County Nature Network, is coordinating a collaborative of organizations contributing to this project. Partners agree to provide backpack materials, volunteers or space for backpack assembly, and/or sites and community networks for backpack distribution.
2023 Contribution Partners Include: Backcountry The Buchanan Family Foundation Grainger Jonathan Huisel National Recreation Foundation Synchrony Wintrust Community Banks Backpack Contents: The 2023's backpacks include a community health- focused activity book titled Find Yourself Outside inspired by the findings of the newest report, from Brushwood's Accelerator team, Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, IL. They also include nature field guides, art supplies, local mental health resources, school supplies, and water bottles, lip balm, and sunscreen. The water bottles, lip balm, and sunscreen were graciously donated by Backcountry this year. Thank you Backcountry for this contribution! All materials in the backpacks are provided in English and Spanish. The contents of the backpack's change each year, depending on the needs of the community. Distribution: Backpacks are distributed at locally-organized events where families can engage in hands-on activities and nature walks, learn how to use the bilingual (English & Spanish) materials in the backpacks, and gain confidence using these spaces. The backpacks encourage families to explore the natural spaces around them through activities focused on nurturing wellness and creativity. 2023 Distribution Partners: Highwood Library Round Lake Library Waukegan Library Warren Newport Library North Chicago Library Round Lake Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Cool Learning Experience Impact: We anticipate that the 1,200 Nature Explorer Backpacks will reach at least 1,000 youth and family members in Waukegan, North Chicago, Highwood, and Round Lake in 2023. Backpack distribution will be tracked, including the number of people in each household who receive a Backpack, ages of children, and city of residence. Additionally, we will use surveys to measure outcomes at each distribution event including: 1) confidence levels visiting nature sites as a family 2) wellbeing outcomes affiliated with the nature activities 3) identification of additional outdoor activities that would most benefit youth and families. Lastly, we will conduct follow up interviews with all of our program partners to gain insight into how families used the bags beyond our initial events and to improve the project’s success in the future. |
Thank you to Grainger's Generations and Veterans Business Resources Groups for helping Brushwood Center store and assemble the 2023 backpacks! Our staff pictured above at the 2023 assembly event.
Brushwood Center would like to extend our gratitude to Backcountry for their in-kind donations of water bottles, sunscreen, and lip balm this year!
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Sponsor the The Nature Explorer Backpack/Mochilas de Explorador Project:
If you would like to Sponsor the backpack project, please contact our Director of Development, Mirja Spooner Haffner, to learn more at mspoonerhaffner@brushwoodcenter.org.
If you would like to Sponsor the backpack project, please contact our Director of Development, Mirja Spooner Haffner, to learn more at mspoonerhaffner@brushwoodcenter.org.
