Environment DEC
From the June 2009 issue
Author Brings His "No Child Left Inside" Campaign to the Adirondacks
In a series of events held May 1 and 2 at three upstate New York locations, Richard Louv, author of the national best-seller, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Youth from Nature Deficit Disorder, delivered a number of talks on the importance of connecting youth and families to nature. The event was organized by Children in Nature New York, a growing collaboration of organizations dedicated to connecting children and nature across New York State. It is expected that Louv's visit will raise awareness of and support for the passing of a legislative initiative to create a children's outdoor bill of rights for New York State.
Saratoga Springs Program
Louv founded the Children & Nature Network which helps families across the country set up nature clubs.
An evening program in Saratoga Springs on May 1 brought together policy makers in the areas of health, education and the environment to raise awareness of the vital role that nature plays in the healthy development of children. Laurel Remus, director of DEC's Division of Public Affairs and Education, spoke about the agency's active commitment to connecting New York's children to nature. Other notable speakers included Carol Ash, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, who expressed her support for the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.
Family Day at The Wild Center
The following day, thanks to the thousands who joined Children in Nature New York, Louv appeared at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake (see "Related Links" below). He was joined by representatives from more than 25 organizations for a special family day at the center designed to generate ideas for getting kids outdoors again. Ideas for activities ranged from fly fishing and nature scavenger hunts to stick-fort building, kite flying and creating more places like The Wild Center's Pines Nature Play Area.
The Pines Nature Play Area, which is offers opportunities for natural play, with tree trunks to climb and branches for building, was officially opened Saturday, May 2. The Pines is designed entirely with nature in mind. Louv, who spoke briefly at the ceremony, found it inspiring. Later that day, Louv signed copiues of his book at The Wild Center's Flammer Theater.
Lake Placid Reception
That evening, a reception for Louv was held at Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid. More than 150 educators, health care professionals, environmental educators, community members and invited guests engaged in lively conversation with Louv, exploring how to reconnect children to nature.
The evening began with an inspiring talk by National Hockey League and Stanley Cup champion, Michael Richter. Afterward, Louv took the podium, saying, "Most kids are not playing outside enough and it's not really their fault." He characterized their lack of a desire to go outside as following cultural orders to stay inside and play video games, rather than making forts or catching frogs. "Adults believe there's a bogeyman on every street corner and in every woods," he continued.
Louv firmly believes it's better for children to take small risks, like climbing trees, while they're young. According to Louv, if we protect them from making their own decisions and solving their own problems until they're forced out into the world as adults, they won't know how to deal with big risks.
One way he feels parents can get past their fear of what's "out there" is to embrace the concept of safety in numbers and go outside with other families. Louv founded the Children & Nature Network (see "Related Links" below), which has helped families set up nature clubs across the country. Through these clubs, families meet to go on outings that put them in contact with the outdoors.
Louv promotes allowing kids to play outside in free, unstructured ways.
"Allowing kids to play outside in free, unstructured ways boosts creativity, mental acuity, self-control and confidence," he said. "It also fends off obesity, an increasing concern among children in the U.S., and studies show it can even lessen the effects of attention deficit disorder. Nature is an antidote. It promotes stress reduction, greater physical health, a deeper sense of spirit, more creativity, a sense of play, even a safer life. These are the rewards that await a family when it invites more nature into children's lives."
Count Me In
After the reception, participants signed pledges to join in the work and be counted among those working to bring the change needed to reconnect children to the natural world. Children in Nature New York is developing support for the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights as a framework for ensuring that children in New York State have access to nature.
Related Links:
The Wild Center (leaving DEC's site)
Children & Nature Network (leaving DEC's site)
