We need your input to develop Los Angeles County’s COBOR!

What

A COBOR is a symbolic list of outdoor activities that are important for all children to experience. This survey is an initial step toward engaging community input to inform and shape policies that will support safe equitable nature connection for all. 

Several cities and states* have developed COBORs to increase and create safe equitable access to nature for all children, which leads to improved child and youth development. 

Equity, as presented here, is defined as “fair treatment, access and opportunity. Equitable access to nature is achieved when all members of a community, regardless of race, income, ability, identity or address, have regular opportunities to spend time in healthy green spaces that are nearby, safe, welcoming and culturally relevant.” (Children & Nature Network, 2023).

*States with COBORS: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, KY, MD, MI, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, WI, WY 

Click here to read more about COBORs

Click here to view a COBOR fact sheet

In addition to collecting public survey responses to guide the COBOR planning process, an Advisory Council made up of representatives from diverse sectors and organizations serves as guides in this process.

Advisory Council includes representatives from:

• Theodore Payne Foundation

• LA Community Garden Council 

• Kiss the Ground

• CicLAvia

• Los Angeles Parks Foundation

• Ten Strands

• Formerly with Council for Watershed Health

• Trust for Public Land / Los Angeles Living Schoolyards Coalition

• Heal the Bay

• City Plants

• Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

• USC Sea Grant

• LIFT-Los Angeles

• SALT Landscape Architects

• LA County Parks

The Los Angeles STEM Collective

The LA STEM Collective is a growing network of more than 40 museums, parks, aquariums, zoos, and nonprofit STEM education organizations that came together during the pandemic to provide remote learning opportunities for Los Angeles students, both in school and after school. Hosted by Wildwoods, a major goal of the newly formalized network is to optimize program delivery to the hundreds of thousands of children and youth in Los Angeles, with a focus on opening access to traditionally marginalized communities. Learn more at lastemcollective.org.

Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN)

CCCN, a joint initiative of the National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network, supports municipal leaders and their community partners to connect children to the benefits of nature more often and more equitably. The CCCN initiative focuses on confronting marked economic and racial disparities in access to nature and is generously supported by The JPB Foundation.

• Health & Wellness

• Academic Outcomes

• Nature Play Can Encourage 

• Equitable Access to Nature’s Benefits