Dominique Bostic Arrington
Kassandra Mayo
About Discover the Forest
You may know Discover the Forest from its iconic public service ads that, for more than a decade, reached millions of families, encouraging them to get outside and explore our nation’s public lands. That message still stands—and continues to grow.
Now led by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), Discover the Forest is expanding in new directions. The program focuses on the early years (birth to age 8), offering families and educators inspiration and practical ideas to explore nature right outside their homes and classrooms.
Discover the Forest celebrates the many ways young children learn, play, and thrive in nearby nature. Our resources highlight how familiar spaces—like urban forests, schoolyards, neighborhood parks, and community gardens—can spark curiosity, creativity, and connection. Through engaging activities and helpful guidance, we show how outdoor experiences strengthen children’s health and learning while nurturing deeper bonds among families, communities, and the natural world.
About NAAEE
For more than five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has served as the professional association, champion, and backbone organization for the field of environmental education (EE), working with EE professionals across United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as globally, to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more healthy and sustainable future.
A Collaborative Effort
We want to extend our sincerest thanks to everyone who has helped shape Discover the Forest into what it is today.
To our friends at the U.S. Forest Service and Corazón Latino; the NAAEE team; consultants; expert content advisors; collaborators at Project Learning Tree®; the talented teams at Agile Collective, OpenCode, Weirdesign, and Sunroom; and the many educators, families, and children who shared their time, wisdom, and encouragement.
We are proud of what we built together.