New Jersey Audubon Invites Kids to “Try Nature”

(New Jersey) Star-Ledger – March 23, 2008
By Fred J. Aun

You can lament the fact that, for many kids these days, nature is something that exists mainly outside the windows of houses and cars. Or you can do something about it.

With its Try Nature campaign that launches next month, the New Jersey Audubon Society is urging people to bring youngsters outside. The NJAS suggests that residents can "begin a journey of nature-based discovery" at one of its 10 nature centers across the state.

Dale Rosselet, New Jersey Audubon's vice president for education, said a visit to an NJAS nature center is far from the only method for getting kids back to nature. Even a simple walk through the woods is good, she said.

"By getting more children out there fishing, hunting and bird-watching, all those things instill some kind of connection to that natural area," said Rosselet, who still cherishes her memories of exploring the woods and swamps of Chatham as a young girl. "If they are not doing those things and not having that connection, that's alarming from a conservation and stewardship angle."

Rosselet acknowledged that modern life in many parts of New Jersey is much different than it was when she was a child. Back then, parents often allowed kids to spend hours exploring nature in an unsupervised, unstructured fashion.

Rosselet believes this do-it-alone type of experience has many psychological and physical developmental benefits. She said she's not alone in her belief.

"Everyone is trying to get kids back outside," she said. "Richard Louv (the author of the book "Last Child in the Woods") coined the phrase 'nature deficit disorder.' What he's talking about is that kids nowadays have become so disconnected to nature that they don't even know anything's going on out there."

Rosselet said researchers believe the disorder is "manifesting itself in numerous ways" including childhood obesity, an increase in attention deficit disorder, feelings of isolation and depression. "Some of the researchers are saying that if kids had unstructured playtime outside in the woods and fields, and along stream banks, that some of these disorders may not be as prevalent as they are now."

However, with all the news about child abductions and other horrors, many parents -- rightfully -- fear allowing kids to wander out of their sight.

"It's a very different world today and we have to acknowledge there could be a real concern about letting kids do that totally unstructured play," said Rosselet. "But there are ways to deal with that. Try, as a family, to be more proactive in going for a little walk, fishing together, visiting a nature center, skipping stones together."

With its Try Nature outreach campaign, NJAS is offering on its website (njaudubon.org) a "Ticket to Discovery" that entitles the holder to free admission to one of the organization's nature programs.

Throughout April, each NJAS center is going to have a number of different spring activities, including birding, botany and butterfly field trips for adults, as well as Skunk Cabbage Safaris, Salamander Searches and Nature Detective programs for children and their families.

For a more hunting- and fishing-oriented experience, parents can bring kids to the annual open house at the state Division of Fish and Wildlife's Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center on Route 46 in Warren County. That free event takes place both days next weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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