1. Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations by David Kahn and Stephen Kellert
A good academic anthology.
Children and Nature incorporates research from cognitive science, developmental psychology, ecology, education, environmental studies, evolutionary psychology, political science, primatology, psychiatry, and social psychology. The authors examine the evolutionary significance of nature during childhood; the formation of children’s conceptions, values, and sympathies toward the natural world; how contact with nature affects children’s physical and mental development; and the educational and political consequences of the weakened childhood experience of nature in modern society.
2.The Thunder Tree by Robert Michael Pyle
While Bob Pyle first coined the term "Extinction of Experience" in 1975, he discussed it further in The Thunder Tree published in 1993. Read it.
3. Extreme Kids: How to Connect With Your Children Through Today's Extreme (and Not So Extreme) Outdoor Sports by Scott Graham
Get the Millennials out!
"You want your kids to have character, confidence, and courage, then by God banish Xbox, Nintendo, and Game Boy and take them on an adventure. How? Where? When? The answers are all here. Someone finally distilled the fundamentals - both psychological and practical - of taking kids kayaking and climbing, surfing and skiing, scuba diving and kiteboarding. I wish I had this book 10 years ago."
- Mark Jenkins, columnist for Outside magazine and author of The Hard Way
4. Monkey Dancing: A Father, Two Kids, and a Journey to the Ends of the Earth Daniel Glick
OK, so we can't all take our kids on an around the world trip, but see what happens when Glick does just that.
5. Randolph Paths by the Randolph Mountain Club
This guide covers one of the finest mountain path networks anywhere. Some are steep and hard, others easy strolls. And keep it quiet, this place is a secret.
6. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
The Book that started it all.
