Story Archives - Page 3 of 12 - Nature: Accessible for All

The New Jersey East Coast Greenways is calling for advocacy! Tell NJ legislators: Don’t cut funding for walking, biking and greenways.

To grow the East Coast Greenway and other walking and biking infrastructure in New Jersey, we need funding from the state, especially in this moment when federal funding for these projects is being cut. The proposed FY27 budget that legislators are discussing right now would steeply cut funding to key state programs like Bikeways that give communities the resources they need to build greenways. These spaces are great resources for communities seeking accessibility for disabilities as they are built with accessibility and inclusion for all in mind and follow strict guidelines in their development.

The East Coast Greenway in New Jersey has supplied a form that residents can consider using to reach out to your legislator today. Tell NJ Legislators: Don’t Cut Safe Streets Funding

Last Tuesday, May 5th our partners over at Ocean Positive headed way inland to join 18 members of the NJ School of Conservation team for an inspiring training session talking about safe, inclusive outdoor recreation that builds communities and inspires others to care about the places we love from the ocean to the mountains.
This was done in conjunction with Pinelands Alliance’s – Nature Accessible for All campaign.

Ocean Positive was on the campus of NJ SOC for a Safe & Positive for All training — and what was supposed to be a 90-minute session turned into a genuine conversation about what it means to ensure that everyone who immerses themselves in nature can have a lifetime of safe and positive experiences.

What happens when you put 18 outdoor educators in a room and ask them to think about who might not feel safe or welcome in the spaces they steward? The staff at NJSOC, soon found out.
Educators. Field staff. People who spend their lives helping others connect with the natural world. They shared their inspiration and insight that makes this work matter.
By training the trainers, these best practices don’t stop with the 18 people in that room. They have the potential to reach the nearly 4,000 people who visit NJSOC each year for programs and field experiences — many of whom may be living with spinal cord injuries, movement and sensory limitations, or neurological differences that standard wilderness safety training too often overlooks.

The NJSOC team doesn’t just teach conservation — they live it. Making sure their programs are accessible and empowering for everyone is a natural extension of that mission.
Grateful to Kerry, Tanya, and the entire NJSOC team for having us. Nature is for everyone. Making that true in practice — not just in principle — takes training, intention, and teams like this one.

Greetings Nature Accessibility Advocates,

May brings a wide range of observances that highlight both the progress made and the work still ahead in advancing accessibility and inclusion. Here we address just a few chances to highlight observances for May. Among the most widely recognized is National Mobility Awareness Month, which focuses on the importance of mobility solutions and independence.

The month also includes National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, which raises awareness of communication disorders and access to critical services, as well as Global Accessibility Awareness Day (celebrated this year on May 21), which highlights the importance of accessible digital and physical environments. Other notable recognitions include Lupus Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and ALS Awareness Month, each underscoring the diverse needs that must be considered in inclusive design.

With so many important observances throughout the month, May serves as a powerful reminder that accessibility is not one-size-fits-all, and that continued collaboration, education, and action are essential to building environments, programs, and services that work for everyone.

For resident veterans of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States declared by the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to have a service-connected disability of any degree qualify for the free hunting and fishing licenses, permits and stamps. The New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife is reimbursed for the cost of these items issued to certified disabled veterans from the state’s General Fund.

Eligible veterans must initially be certified by Fish and Wildlife to receive these free licenses, permits and stamps.

For those interested in learning more can visit this link – NJDEP| Fish & Wildlife | Disabled Veteran License Information

Hello All,

April 25th is National Trails Day. The Nature Accessible for All campaign would like to highlight inclusive and accessible opportunities for this year’s Trails Day promoted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

This is part of a regional effort to highlight the importance of trails for transportation, recreation, and community development.

This is a great opportunity for community interaction and engagement as well as meeting local decision-makers, potential partners, and stakeholders to experience trail projects firsthand and build momentum around priority projects in your area.

You can use this map to help you locate events happening close to you.

Congress is currently debating an updated Farm Bill, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is asking land preservation advocates to contact their Members of Congress to support passing this important legislation.

Updated every five years, the Farm Bill typically contains a range of rural development, conservation, and forestry programs that benefit the trail landscape and hiking experiences in the outdoors.

Learn more about how this legislation benefits the Trail and its landscape, and let your members of Congress know you support an updated bipartisan Farm Bill – Here.