Page 7 - NatureStart Network

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge with gratitude our first NatureStart Network partners;
El Valor, Mary Crane, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC), and
Erikson Institute of Child Development. Even as we write these words, the
NatureStart Network continues to grow and expand throughout Chicago and
beyond. None of this important work would have been possible without those
willing to help launch the pilot project described in this publication.

We offer our heartfelt thanks to the incredible leaders Our appreciation to the Institute of Museum
who served on the multidisciplinary NatureStart and Library Services (IMLS) for its support of
Network Advisory Council during the first two years; the NatureStart Network, as well as support and
Nina Baki, Robert Bryant, Marissa Cervantes, Mary encouragement for previous NatureStart projects
Ruth Coffey, Nina Duenas, Ilinca Ivan, Lisa Kelly, which created the foundation for this work. We also
Jennifer Matiasek, Cynthia Moreno, Claudia Rivera, acknowledge with gratitude the ongoing support
Lavetter Terry, Julie Vandervort, Matea Varvodic, and encouragement from the Association of Zoos
Timothy Wesch, and Matthew Zaradich. and Aquariums (AZA) as well as La Asociación
We are indebted to the FPDCC Naturalists, Latinoamericana de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios
Nature Center directors, environmental educators, early (Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
childhood lead teachers, family workers, Head Start Our profound thanks to the family play program
site directors, parent infant educators, and Head Start coordinators of the Chicago Zoological Society’s
parents who actively participated in this project and Hamill Family Play Zoo, past, present, and future.
helped shape the ongoing learning community that is the You are the heart of the CZS NatureStart initiative at
NatureStart Network. Brookfield Zoo.
We would like to thank all those who participated We are also deeply indebted to the more than a
in our 2016 early childhood symposium at the Chicago decade long partnership between the Chicago Zoological
Zoological Society in which we further explored the Society and Eden Place Nature Center, an urban oasis
themes highlighted in this publication: the Center for on Chicago’s south side. The vision and leadership of
Humans and Nature, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago Eden Place Nature Center continues to show us what
Department of Family and Support Services, Chicago is possible when families, children, and nature connect
Park District, Cosley Zoo, Illinois Action for Children, within urban neighborhoods. This longstanding and
Lake County Forest Preserves, Lincoln Park Zoo, valuable partnership never ceases to inform and inspire
Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Neighbor us, and continually reinforces the power of partnership
Space, North Park Village Nature Center, Shedd and collaboration.
Aquarium, University of Colorado, Vera Meineke Nature Finally, our deepest gratitude for those conservation
Center at Spring Valley, and Wild Indigo. Our deep leaders acting on behalf of children, nature, and cities.
appreciation to Kate Livingston, founder and principal You remind us all that nature is everywhere and you help
of ExposeYourMuseum LLC, for helping to plan and us make the world whole.
facilitate such rich and vibrant discussion, much of
which has found its way into this publication. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of
Museum and Library Services Award # MA-10-14-0434-14)

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