Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza (NKJN) is a five-year, $10 million collaboration that expands access to nature for Lafayette youth and families. The program offers a continuum of opportunities—from pre-K through high school, from neighborhood parks to backcountry trips, and with options that include the whole family. Alongside outdoor programming, NKJN is also creating new parks and trails so every young person in Lafayette can reach nature within a safe 10-minute walk.

The work is guided by the voices of community members. In 2016, more than 200 residents shared their experiences, challenges, and ideas through a year-long planning effort. Their input shaped 82 program components and six capital projects, from schoolyard improvements to new trail connections. Over 30 nonprofit, public, and local business partners are working together under Thorne’s coordination to bring this vision to life.

Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza Boulder (NKJNB) launched in 2021 to advance similar goals in Boulder. Local partners—including Thorne, Cal-Wood, the City of Boulder, and others—are piloting programs that connect youth and families to the outdoors while learning about barriers that keep people from nature. A community liaison helps families engage and share feedback, ensuring the program reflects real needs and builds on existing opportunities without duplication. Lessons from this pilot will inform a longer-term model for equitable access to nature in Boulder.