Campaign/Initiative News
State
(Huntington) Herald-Dispatch – June 01, 2008
Another Statewide Effort to Reconnect Kids with Nature
Ohio joins the ranks of states trying to reconnect children with nature. As part of its summer Explore the Outdoors challenge, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently distributed nearly 800,000 activity guides to public school students. The activities described in the guides include fishing and hiking, and students who complete eight or more of these activities before September 1 are eligible for prizes. [+]
National | Access
Sierra announces $23 million in support for Military Family Outdoor (MFO) Initiative
The Military Family Outdoor (MFO) Initiative, a joint project of the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation, today announced a three-year grant of up to $23 million, provided by generous donors to support three organizations that provide returning veterans and their families with healing, life-affirming outdoor experiences in the natural world.
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State
News 14 Carolina – March 06, 2008
North Carolina Zoo Conference Urges Kids to Get Outside
By Ed Scannell
In March 2008, North Carolina Zoo was the site of a conference aimed at promoting outdoor play and reconnecting the state's children with nature. Organizers brought together teachers, health professionals and people from private industry and government; people they believe can help reverse the trend in North Carolina. "The results from this will be children who are healthier, children who can learn better and children who have a much [greater] sense of belonging in the world," said Kathy Bull of the N.C. Zoological Society.
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State
(San Luis Obispo) Tribune – March 30, 2008
Putting California’s Outdoor Bill of Rights into Action
By Bob Cuddy
A year after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, various public and private agencies find themselves trying to incorporate the bill’s principles into their programs for young people. In San Luis Obispo, local park directors and others have been meeting in an effort to ensure that, as the bill states, each child between four and fourteen has an opportunity to explore nature and camp under the stars.
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State
Voices – March 29, 2008
Connecticut’s Great Park Pursuit Returns
The Great Park Pursuit, a central element of Connecticut’s No Child Left Inside initiative returns this spring for its third season. The contest takes Connecticut families to seven different state parks and forests over the course of two months, and at each location teams take part in activities such as hiking and fishing. Participating families then become eligible for prizes of outdoor equipment donated by local retailers.
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National | Media & Culture
National Wildlife Federation – March 14, 2008
National Wildlife Week’s 70th Anniversary
The National Wildlife Federation’s longest-running education program celebrates its 70th anniversary April 19-27. National Wildlife Week provides an opportunity for people of all ages to explore the outdoors by joining in the Nature Quest Wildlife Watch, an effort that involves searching for and identifying local plants and animals, then sharing news of those discoveries with others across the country. [+]
State
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
South Dakota Launches No Child Left Inside Campaign
South Dakota’s Game, Fish & Parks division is encouraging children to spend more time outside exploring the natural world through its No Child Left Inside program. The program’s website offers a list of ideas for seasonal outdoor activities, links to other nature resources, and information for groups interested in helping connect children with nature on applying for small No Child Left Inside grants. [+]
State
Washington State Parks – January 01, 2008
$1.5 Million Available for Outdoor Youth Programs in Washington
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is encouraging public and private groups dedicated to connecting children with nature to apply for $1.5 million in grants. Participation in the program and support for it are critical to ensure future funds. The deadline for applications is February 27. [+]
Local | Education
Boston Globe – December 31, 2007
Boston Globe Focuses on Children and Nature Movement
By Peter Dizikes
A recent front-page article in the Boston Globe provides an overview of the children and nature movement at the local and national levels. Entitled “Nature Nurtures Learning,” the article examines the efforts of one Boston elementary school to integrate nature studies into its curriculum, and quotes a noted pediatrician, the biologist E.O. Wilson, author Richard Louv, and others on the benefits of such a curriculum.
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National
Mail Tribune (of Southern Oregon) – January 02, 2008
BLM Tells People to Take It Outside
By Paul Fattig
A new initiative by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management aims to improve the physical and mental health of children by educating them about the environment and actually getting them outdoors. “Take It Outside: Connect with Your Public Lands” is a nationwide effort with activities organized at the local level. In southern Oregon, the Bureau is already working with area parks, universities, and youth groups, among others, to coordinate events.
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Allies
Danville Register & Bee – December 11, 2007
NASCAR Driver Laments Nature-Deficit Disorder
By Denice Thibodeau
The children and nature movement has found an unlikely ally in NASCAR driver Ward Burton. At the Governor’s Forum on Land Conservation in Southern Virginia, Burton told the nearly 200 attendees that children today are suffering from nature-deficit disorder because they are not connected to the outdoors. The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation supports conservation efforts and youth education programs to help counter this trend.
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Local
The Greeley Tribune – October 14, 2007
Losing ground: More people means more houses, leaving fewer places to explore
By Dan England,
While there's a growing urgency to address kids losing touch with the outdoors, "most still have never heard of the idea," said Zoe Whyman, community relations manager for the Fort Collins Natural Areas Program. "Just making people aware of the problem is our main goal." Whyman's group is among organizations in the Fort Collins area dedicated to helping kids get in touch with nature and the outdoors. These include the Boy Scouts of America -- Longs Peak Council, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Youth Outdoors, Kids in the Woods, the Poudre Education Center, and the Fort Collins Aububon Society.
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State
Competitor Magazine – July 06, 2007
Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights Supported by Governator
This past week (Friday, July 6), Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a proclamation supporting the California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights which includes ten easy and fun things that every child should have the opportunity to experience between the ages of four and 14, including to: discover California's past, splash in the water, play in a safe place, camp under the stars, explore nature, learn to swim, play on a team, follow a trail, catch a fish and celebrate their heritage.
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National | Access
the Atlanta Journal Constitution – April 27, 2007
Sierra Club a camp booster: Donation to aid children in military families
By Gerry Smith
The Sierra Club announced it will donate more than $1 million to send military children to Operation Purple camps across the country. For one week this summer, children will kayak along the Broad River, learn the history of the Cherokee Indians and roast marshmallows with other children who know what it feels like to have a parent in the military.
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Local | Access
Orion Online – May 01, 2007
Working to Build Bridges in Greater Cincinnati
By Betsy Townsend
Betsy Townsend of Leave No Child Inside – Greater Cincinnati describes her group’s efforts to form alliances with local organizations already involved in health and education. Thus far response to these efforts has been overwhelmingly positive.
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Local | Event
Standing-Room-Only Spells Success
By Mary Roscoe
How did a team of six spread the word to draw a standing-room-only crowd of 800+ to the launch of their local Leave No Child Inside initiative? What can we borrow from their success as we reach out and engage our community on this issue?
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State
North Carolina Governor proclaims April Children and Nature Awareness Month.
The North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina Zoological Society and members of the NC children and nature coalition announced that Governor Mike Easely has proclaimed April Children and Nature Awareness Month.
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National | Education
Washington Post – April 17, 2008
Washington Post: Inside the Capitol, the Great Outdoors
By Moira E. McLaughlin
When a group of fifth-graders showed up to tour the Capitol recently with an alligator, two leopard cubs, and assorted other animals in tow, even the Washington Post took notice. The students were at the Capitol to show support for the No Child Left Inside Act, which would fund environmental education programs if passed.
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State
KCCI 8 – April 02, 2008
Iowa County Officials Warn of Nature-Deficit Disorder
Concerned with the increasing number of hours that children spend indoors watching TV and playing video games, officials with Iowa’s Polk County Health Department and Polk County Conservation Board have started asking parents to help prevent nature-deficit disorder. To aid the effort, the Conservation Board has developed a number of programs that introduce children to nature and put the information online for easy access by parents. [+]
National
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – March 14, 2008
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Launches New Initiative
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has launched a new initiative to help connect children and adults with nature. Using the slogan “Let’s Go Outside!” the service will be targeting urban dwellers and nontraditional conservation audiences in particular, encouraging them to explore the National Wildlife Refuge System and other natural resources.
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State
Fort Collins Coloradoan – January 12, 2008
Colorado C&NN Chapter Takes the Next Step
By Zoe Whyman
If the Children & Nature Network-Fort Collins is representative of other regional groups, the movement stands to make great strides in the coming year. The Fort Collins chapter boasts members from more than 20 educational, environmental, business, and health care organizations, and together they have developed a strategic plan and a presentation that has already been shown to dozens of local groups.
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International
24dash.com – January 15, 2008
Children’s Nature Week in England
By Sheila Murray
Further evidence of the children and nature movement’s international reach can be found in southeastern England, where the Three Rivers Local Council is organizing activities for Children’s Nature Week. Now in its fourth year, the event will be held February 11-15 and include a guided wildlife tour and outdoor arts and crafts.
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C&NN has designated April "Children & Nature Awareness Month." As part of this effort, we invited network members (like you) to list their April programs and share their strategies for building public awareness. Find out what's happening in your community on the C&NN Movement Map.
As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published two new resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels:
An annotated bibliography of 20 premier studies focusing on the children and nature connection.
