http://www.cnaturenet.org/news/ Movement News & Commentary en Children and Nature Network Copyright 2008 2008-11-17T17:24:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/students_push_for_new_school_playground/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/students_push_for_new_school_playground/ Students at Peter Woodbury Elementary School in New Hampshire are raising funds to build new outdoor play areas at their school. The students hope to raise $150,000 for grounds that will combine a traditional play structure, a natural landscape with trees, a functioning garden, and an outdoor classroom. Staff at the school was inspired to design a playground that would give children more interaction with the outdoors in a natural landscape after reading Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods. 2008-11-17T16:24:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/rehab_center_builds_mountain_nature_trail/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/rehab_center_builds_mountain_nature_trail/ In an effort to make nature more accessible to all, New Hampshire’s Crotched Mountain rehabilitation center is building a four-mile trail along the side of the mountain on which its facility rests. The trail will offer wheelchair-bound students at the Crotched Mountain school an opportunity to experience nature up close. The first one-mile stage of the trail is scheduled to be completed next spring. 2008-11-17T16:19:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/outdoor_bill_of_rights_unveiled_at_chicago_event/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/outdoor_bill_of_rights_unveiled_at_chicago_event/ Children should have the right to camp under the stars, play in the mud, climb a tree, and plant flowers, according to a new Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights announced at the Chicago Wilderness Congress. Part of a larger No Child Left Inside initiative aimed at creating a culture in which children are encouraged to connect with nature, the proclamation is similar to one endorsed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California in July 2007. 2008-11-17T16:13:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/bike_group_introduces_gateway_trails/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/bike_group_introduces_gateway_trails/ The International Mountain Biking Association is launching a new initiative to build what it calls "gateway trails" to broaden the recreational options available to families in urban and suburban communities. The IMBA hopes the new trail systems will “inspire kids to explore the natural world and lead to positive associations with exercise.” International, Access, Campaign/Initiative 2008-11-10T00:06:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/louv_to_address_national_trails_symposium/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/louv_to_address_national_trails_symposium/ The 19th National Trails Symposium will feature a keynote address by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods. The event, which will be taking place in Arkansas starting November 15, is a biennial conference hosted by American Trails, a nonprofit that works to protect America’s network of interconnected trails. The theme this year is “Innovative Trails: Transforming the American Way of Life.” 2008-11-10T00:04:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/uk_parents_our_children_are_overscheduled/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/uk_parents_our_children_are_overscheduled/ A parenting survey of more than 2,000 British families has found that children’s play there is too structured and that children don’t have enough time to play by themselves. The survey, conducted by Persil’s Free Play Initiative, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents admitted that they always plan their children’s play and entertainment activities, rather than letting their children make up games such as “climbing trees, making mud pies, or simply having an imaginary friend.” 2008-11-03T15:51:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/researchers_link_green_spaces_to_childrens_health/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/researchers_link_green_spaces_to_childrens_health/ A new study of nearly 4,000 inner-city children reveals that living in areas with green space has a long-term positive impact on children’s weight and, by consequence, their health. Researchers found that higher neighborhood greenness is associated with slower increases in body mass over a two-year period, regardless of population density. 2008-11-03T15:50:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/wisconsin_mom_inspired_to_start_outdoor_club/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/wisconsin_mom_inspired_to_start_outdoor_club/ A Minnesota mother of two, inspired by Last Child in the Woods, has started an informal outdoor club for families called Happy Trails to get more families outdoors. Each free event features a short hike, some unstructured play, and a bonfire. The club is loosely based on a similar club in Virginia called the Kids in the Valley, Adventuring. SECTIONS 2008-11-03T15:43:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/us_environmental_protection_agency_video_explores_the_value_of_urban_wetlan/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/us_environmental_protection_agency_video_explores_the_value_of_urban_wetlan/ Get the Flash Player to see this video. var so = new SWFObject('http://www.childrenandnature.org/mediaplayer/player.swf','mpl','403','248','9'); so.addParam('allowscriptaccess','always'); so.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so.addParam('flashvars','&file=http://www.childrenandnature.org/uploads/wetlands_wonder.flv&image=http://www.childrenandnature.org/uploads/wetlands_wonder_preview.jpg&fullscreen=true'); so.write('player'); The film focuses on urban and suburban wetlands as valuable resources to be restored, protected, and enjoyed. These places, often the only remnants of the natural world in developed areas, can play a key role in connecting people to nearby nature—thereby improving the health of our children and our communities. National, Access, Resource 2008-10-29T00:42:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/pioneering_teacher_wins_national_award_for_work/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/pioneering_teacher_wins_national_award_for_work/ The National Environmental Education Foundation recently presented Illinois high-school teacher Gary Swick with the second annual Bartlett Award for his ongoing efforts to interest students in the environment. Those efforts include a regional workshop every year to help other teachers learn how to incorporate environmental education across their curriculum. 2008-10-27T15:54:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/acadia_park_chief_promoting_leave_no_child_inside/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/acadia_park_chief_promoting_leave_no_child_inside/ The superintendent of Acadia National Park, Sheridan Steele, will speak to Department of Interior employees on the compelling health, economic, and social reasons the park service and society in general should ensure that no child is left inside. Steele also recently addressed the issue at Maine Governor John Baldacci’s Conference on Youth and the Natural World. 2008-10-27T15:52:01-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/sf_chronicle_fighting_nature_deficit_disorder/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/sf_chronicle_fighting_nature_deficit_disorder/ The key to connecting children with nature, writes the San Francisco Chronicle’s Tom Stienstra, is obliging school districts to put outdoor instruction into the elementary school curriculum. And doing so, he insists, will not require additional funding. “With a vast network of volunteers already available to serve, outdoors education can be provided at elementary schools throughout California.” 2008-10-27T15:48:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/memphis_groups_focus_on_getting_kids_outside/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/memphis_groups_focus_on_getting_kids_outside/ The Conservation Through Art initiative in Memphis is hosting the series of events October 19-25 that share the mission of getting more kids outside to experience nature. A family day with fishing, art activities, outdoor conservation and recreation games, and duck-calling lessons is part of the festivities, and Richard Louv will be in Memphis to deliver the keynote address. Conservation Through Art was started three years ago by ArtsMemphis and Ducks Unlimited. Local, Event 2008-10-20T16:33:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/study_nature_walks_help_kids_concentrate/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/study_nature_walks_help_kids_concentrate/ In a small but tightly controlled recent study, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that a nature walk worked as well or better than a dose of medication on a child’s ability to concentrate. The participants—seventeen children with ADHD—were able to focus better after a walking in parks than they were after walking in residential neighborhoods or downtown areas. National, Health, Resource 2008-10-20T15:29:01-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/earth_science_week_leads_kids_outdoors/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/earth_science_week_leads_kids_outdoors/ The American Geological Institute is boosting the effort to connect kids with nature by centering its Earth Science Week efforts this year on the theme of No Child Left Inside. Through local, national, and international events, as well as contests and even a special “toolkit” for educators, the AGI hopes to encourage young people to learn about the geosciences by getting away from the television, off the computer, and out of doors. Earth Science Week 2008 takes place October 12-18. 2008-10-16T16:21:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/kids_need_much_more_vitamin_d_doctors_say/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/kids_need_much_more_vitamin_d_doctors_say/ The nation’s leading pediatrician group says children should get double the usually recommended amount of vitamin D because of evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases. Sunlight is widely considered the best source of vitamin D; the body produces it naturally when sunshine hits the skin. 2008-10-14T18:10:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/canadian_report_sounds_alarm_on_kids/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/canadian_report_sounds_alarm_on_kids/ The nonprofit Active Healthy Kids Canada estimates that 90 percent of Canadian children are not meeting the current physical activity guidelines set for them. Even more surprising to some observers, the nonprofit says that a major reason children are not active is that they have forgotten how to play—that parents, and society in general, don’t encourage free play. 2008-10-06T16:03:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nature_deficit_disorder_focus_of_biodiversity_conference/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nature_deficit_disorder_focus_of_biodiversity_conference/ The California Biodiversity Council’s next meeting will focus on nature-deficit disorder, a condition the council says is now “running rampant.” The meeting, scheduled for October 8, will look at how member land management agencies can and should address nature-deficit disorder, and feature presentations from organizations that are having success reconnecting kids with nature. National, Event 2008-10-06T16:01:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/woodland_therapy_taking_root_in_uk/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/woodland_therapy_taking_root_in_uk/ Educators in the UK are turning to the calming influence of trees to help troubled youth. Often excluded from school for bad behavior, these teenagers now spend their days learning traditional woodland management techniques and about the environmental importance of trees and the animals they support. A recent report in Britain concluded that the therapeutic effects of the outdoors includes “a multitude of benefits on young people’s physical development, emotional, and mental health and well-being, as well as their social development.” 2008-10-06T15:59:01-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/student_letter_leads_to_110000_grant_from_lowes/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/student_letter_leads_to_110000_grant_from_lowes/ A letter last year from a fourth-grader at a public charter school in Rhode Island inspired executives at Lowe’s to award the school a $110,000 grant to build a new playground. The student, Bernardo Garcia, wrote hoping the company would donate grass to turn a parking lot into a soccer field. Instead, his letter has resulted in a custom-designed playground that combines traditional climbing equipment and natural environments. Allies, Education, Campaign/Initiative 2008-09-29T19:09:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/maine_governors_conference_coming_october_2/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/maine_governors_conference_coming_october_2/ Governor John Baldacci of Maine is inviting parents, government officials, teachers, conservationists, and others to attend his Conference on Youth and the Natural World. Taking place October 2, the conference will feature lectures, discussions, and exhibits, and showcase local programs that have had success reconnecting kids with nature. 2008-09-29T19:07:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/grow_greener_school_grounds_conference_in_sf/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/grow_greener_school_grounds_conference_in_sf/ On October 10 and 11 the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance will host the third Growing Greener School Grounds Conference, a workshop-style event that will bring together over 300 Bay Area teachers and community members to learn more about creating, using, and sustaining ecological schoolyards. The conference will feature a keynote address by Richard Louv. 2008-09-29T19:03:00-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/kalamazoo_chosen_as_demonstration_city/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/kalamazoo_chosen_as_demonstration_city/ Kalamazoo is one of three Michigan cities selected by the Children & Nature Network that together will become a national demonstration project funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The goal of the project is to give children more outdoor play time, fewer scheduled activities supervised by adults, and less time with TV, video games, computers, and other electronic media. 2008-09-29T19:00:01-08:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nickelodeon_promoting_worldwide_day_of_play/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nickelodeon_promoting_worldwide_day_of_play/ Nickelodeon will cease broadcasting for three hours on September 27 so that kids who would normally be watching its programming can go outside and play. This is the fifth year of the so-called Worldwide Day of Play, which was designed as a way to encourage kids to fight obesity. Before and after the blackout, Nickelodeon and its sister networks will feature health-related programming. 2008-09-22T23:29:00-08:00