Op ed

Joe Wynns, a member of the National Forum, pens an Op ed in the Indianapolis Star.

At no other time in history have so many children been so separated from direct experiences in nature. We have radically changed the way we raise our children and altered our attitudes toward nature and the outdoors.

Go To Camp

As a kid I went to Camp Woodstock in CT for five years straight, then moved on to Camp Cherokee, a BSA camp, where we had to cook all of our meals, then onto Camp Tadma as a staff member. Great times outdoors.

As we prepared for the National Dialogue on Children and Nature last summer, we felt it was important to find representation of summer camps, so we sought out The American Camp Association and reps for individual camps, for instance Kingswood Camp in NH.

Here's some camp kids on NH's Mt. Jefferson a few days ago:




The National Dialogue, held in September 2006 in Shepherdstown WV succeeded in connecting Rich Louv to these camp groups, and the Boston Globe has a great article today on how summer camps are becoming more popular again.

Traditional camps may be acquiring a new appeal, as an antidote to the trend described two years ago by writer Richard Louv in his book "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder." The book linked the move to indoor play to other problems, such as childhood obesity and attention deficit disorder, and set off a national movement to reconnect children with nature, known as the "No Child Left Inside" campaign.

The American Camp Association, which accredits and promotes camps, recently announced plans to use Louv's message for recruitment, said Bette Bussel , director of the camp association's New England office in Lexington, Mass.

Live Earth

Big event this weekend.

More here.

More on Gen Y

Gen Y, or The Millennials, is a demographic group representing people born between 1980 (this year varies by author and researcher, some say 1982) and 2000. They are a very different demographic from Gen X, and they represent an opportunity to learn from their view on the world and apply that knowledge to connecting kids and people with nature.

There are many web resources to learn more about this demographic. Check out this site, written from a human resources perspective.

Gen Y children have been wanted, valued and coddled from birth. They have lived highly structured lives. From their preschool days they have had scheduled playgroup dates, and participated in team sports, music lessons and a wide range of stimulating activities. Parents have micro managed their schedules and remain highly involved in their children’s lives.

Here's a good primer on Gen Y and their links to online culture.

Those born after 1982 are the most media savvy, educated, and wired people to have ever walked the earth. They are also the largest trend-setters since the Baby Boomers.

A recent NPS meeting also looked at Gen Y and why the Park Service should care about this important demographic.

And a bit more background here.

Post July 4th News

Some simple ways to keep healthy, with nature in mind.

The human body needs the touch of nature along with the touch of human skin. Yet too many people have dulled their senses and thus silenced that need. It’s easy to go several months without ever touching the earth, as most of our activities involve walking on pavement as we move from home to car to office to grocery store and back again. When was the last time you sat down on the ground or touched the earth in some way?

And, leave it to folks in Maine to come up with some good ideas to get kids, and adults outside.

Look back at the fond memories of your own childhood and try to recreate some of those same memories with your children and grandchildren.

As a parent or grandparent ask yourself the following:

•Did you ever have a playhouse outside?
•Do your children have a fort in the woods or playhouse?
•When was the last time you camped out in the backyard, looking up at the stars and counting and catching fireflies?
•When was the last time the family went for a hike or spent a day at the beach?
•When was the last time the family went for a boat or canoe ride?
•When was the last time you took your children fishing or hunting?
•When was the last time you went to a seashore beach looking under the seaweed for crabs and periwinkles?
•While walking through the woods, do you turn over rocks and rotten trees to find out what is living underneath?

Simple, healthy activities centered around nature will improve a family’s closeness, increase your children’s appreciation of the outdoors and best of all — it will be fun.

See more in this article by Ken Bailey of the Knoxville County Times.

Life Potatoes

CBS News' Dick Meyer seems to get it with this July 1 commentary.

Now, I have paid close attention over several years to the research about the effects of television, video games and the Internet on children's behavior and their neurological and emotional development. And I can assure you, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the research is conclusive. Find a paper that says video games rot a kid's soul and I'll find one that says they enhance the function of the inferior cerebellar peduncle.

Read his thoughts here.

Retailers bring them outside

REI is doing what they can to get kids outside. REI Chief Sally Jewell is a member of the National Forum on CHildren and Nature, and has been very engaged in the issue.

“Being a kid should include running around outside, riding a bike, climbing trees and exploring the woods, unfortunately today’s youth are spending less time outdoors than any previous generation,” says Sally Jewell, REI president and CEO. “It’s our hope that this program provides a helpful tool for parents to introduce their children to a fun experience in the outdoors – and in the process instill an appreciation of nature.”

Read more about what they are doing, and get some good tips on starting out. here.