The International Movement is Growing but not Guaranteed
One of the admirable characteristics of modern Australia – one that the U.S. should emulate – is a relatively new custom. As I learned on a recent visit to four cities, at the opening of most major conferences indigenous people are asked to give an invocation; and the first person to speak offers a brief statement honoring the original inhabitants of that particular site, and the land itself.
What struck me about this ritual was that, by showing respect for the ancestors and for the generations to come, the tone of every event was subtly different: respect is contagious. Of course, racism still exists in Australia, as it does in the U.S., but this simple act offers a moment of reconciliation.
Now, on to the news. In Western Australia, 1400 people came to the opening event at the Perth Concert Hall launching Nature Play WA, a statewide campaign to connect young people with the natural world.
Following one of those moving invocations, and a speech by a visiting American, Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron announced the campaign in Western Australia, the nation’s largest state, occupying the entire western third of the continent. On April 21, the state government issued a press release:
“A new movement to be launched tonight in Perth will motivate families to get outside and experience nature together. Nature Play WA will provide encouragement for parents and help them develop strategies to get their children away from the TV and computer screen. ‘The departments of Sport and Recreation and Environment and Conservation will work together to provide a series of resources encouraging families to get outside together,’ Mr. Waldron said. ‘The first of these resources is the Nature Play WA website,, which will evolve to offer a complete menu of activities for the family and give tips on how they can create a new community of active families to share the fun of being in nature.’”
S o the movement is spreading globally, as well as in the United States where 72 regional or state campaigns have been launched. As C&NN’s Suz Lipman wrote here last week, we’re receiving reports of programs, clubs, and events from far flung corners of the world, from China to London and South Africa, Santiago, Chile, and Puerto Montt, Chile, Dunedin, New Zealand, Canada, and across Europe – countries represented by members on the C&NN discussion forum range from England, Scotland, Belgium, and France to Spain, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. Add the Philippines, Japan and Kenya to that list.
However, the growth of the Children and Nature Movement is not guaranteed. One reason is that competition for children’s time is increasing.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average 7 1/2 hours a day using some sort of electronic device. Last week, the Pew Research Center reported a study that found that half of American teenagers send 50 or more text messages a day, and one third send more than 100 a day, leading the researchers to note that the initial qualitative evidence shows that “the ease of electronic communication may be making teens less interested in face-to-face communication with their friends.” Also last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced a new pin for Cub Scouts: for playing video games. This isn’t to say that electronics should be demonized (they should not), but it is to say that the experience of childhood – and adulthood – is severely out of balance.
A second reason that the future of the Children and Nature Movement is not guaranteed is that it’s being seeded largely by nonprofit groups, and only secondarily by government (Western Australia is an exception) and business (REI and The North Face come to mind). For decades, the nonprofit groups that connect children to nature, directly or indirectly, have struggled to survive. With the recession, that struggle continues.
Nonetheless, many of us sense that the Children and Nature Movement is reaching a tipping point.
It grows as part of something even bigger. In Melbourne, C&NN board member Howard Frumkin and I spoke at the first international Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress – which focused on how the natural world, parks and beyond, can improve the mental and physical health of all people and all ages. Remarkably, over 1000 people from 35 countries attended that conference.
It too, began with a ritual of respect to a people whose connection to nature is legendary. Today, mainstream Western culture is relearning what the indigenous people of Australia never forgot.
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Richard Louv is chairman of the Children and Nature Network. He is the author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.”
I find it interesting the Kaiser’s research found that children spend an average of 7 1/2 hours a day using electronics. Then again I believe it because my cousins are always playing video games or on the computer. It is wonderful that nonprofit organizations are helping the Children and Nature movement but I think it is sad that the government has yet to become more involved with this organization.
Richard,
I was one of those people that really never paid attention to the nature deficit disorder occurring now. I remember playing outdoors as a child and having wonderful moments while in nature. Until I read your book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, I didn’t realize how big of a problem it was. My kids are definitely more tech savvy and use electronic equipment much more than they play in the outdoors. Kids today are consumed with getting information faster, connecting with friends and aren’t really motivated to go outside. The need to be connected to the outdoors is very challenging since their is so much competition for the children’s time, nature loses out most of the time. However, this atricle you wrote about the movement in Australia shows me that people, and the government, can make a difference and we just need to continue to keep the movement going. If Western Australia can do it and make a difference to the children that live there, so can we. Also, we can’t just leave it up to nonprofit group or secondary government. We need to have large corporation and the Federal goverment behind this movement so everyone single state in the US can benefit from the reconnection with nature. It is just as you pointed out, like the banning of cigarettes, if enough people get behind a cause their voice will be heard and things will change. I will certainly do my part to help keep the movement going.
Richard,
Its funny, cause as a child, I found myself immersed in nature. I could remember days where I spent all day, from when the sun came up and when the sun went down, outside with my friends just exploring the woods and and mountain trails, doing so much. I always thought this is what we did as a children, but as I have been reading your book and this article, some of the results you have provided are just unbelievable. When you made the mention in this blog that, “The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average 7 1/2 hours a day using some sort of electronic device”, I was like really, they are using electronics that much? But as I think of this, being only 20 years old and working in the IT field, I understand how this is possible. I mean, electronics are everywhere we go, for example, I work in a hospital and we are working on a major project to soon have the hospital using paperless charting, and doing everything on computers. We even have internet access for visitors and patients, who I see every day using electronics. I have even heard of schools putting in more and more computers. To hear that there is an “international movement to get children outside experiencing nature”, sounds great, but I share some reservations about its true success in something that might stick. However, I do hope that this will get the ball rolling and at least get some more out there in nature
Nick P.
When I read the title of your article, I am wondering if Taiwan is among the countries in the movement family, since I am from Taiwan naturally. I could not find the answer, but I did see one report by ZOE CHENG in Taiwan Review, about Hsu-Jen-hsiu, a nature saver. He founded Society of Wilderness (SOW), which is the largest environmental organization in Taiwan. “…..He has dedicated his life to introducing people to the secrets and wonders of nature and has had a lasting influence on Taiwanese attitudes toward ecology.” said the report. I felt released that Taiwan is not isolated from the rest of the world in environmental movement anyway.
I think we must highlight the importance of protecting environment for children and next generation. No where our kids can go outdoors to play if we damage the nature on our hands – just like a disaster recently in US Gulf Coast line where oil spilled and caused wild animal in damages at big scale level.
I agree that the future of children having a strong connection with nature is far from assured. Some of the programs that you listed are probably going to be under funded and some could fall through the cracks. However, I think that the larger and more important issue is that at least a foundation is being laid for the movement. I believe the most important step in getting a project like this running is getting people talking. Spreading the word about these ideas can do nothing but help gain support for them. You say that, “The movement is spreading globally, as well as in the United states,” and that’s a really good start. It seems like more and more powerful players are coming to the table to discuss ways of implementing these ideas. If countries like England, France, Spain, and China are on board, it makes getting things done that much easier. Hopefully, this project pulls through. I think that it is ridiculous that children are now getting merit badges for playing video games. Especially through an organization that is supposed to get children out into nature and encourage them to explore and play outdoors. I dislike where America is headed with its youth’s involvement in the natural world. But if they can follow the lead of government programs sponsored by states or other countries, maybe it can circumvent the problem. Specifically, what Australia is proposing to do could provide a groundwork for programs like this elsewhere. Even if the government is only funding it secondarily, at least they are making an active attempt to get whole families to spend time together and in nature.
I’m glad that this movement is finally starting to become something. Who knew something so small could make such a big difference? Richard Louv, I sincerely hope that your efforts and your book reach out to the people around the world to educate them of the beneficial effects of nature. My teacher revolves her class around your book, and it was a very interesting read. Although I could argue some points in it, I generally agree that nature is something that lacks in children’s lives today. I also agree that something needs to be done to prevent a total loss of interaction of nature. Good luck in your quest to teach the world of what they’re missing.
This is a wonderful practice that I’d love to see implemented more often. Respect is the crux of a healthy relationship and we should remind ourselves to apply that to all our relationships: with friends, family, and of course nature. I hope that more people will see that this movement is about more than just getting outside. It’s about respecting your environment, your roots and origins, and your neighbors. I am glad to see things picking up speed, Richard. Great job!
It is great to read of your positive experiences in Melbourne, Richard. As an Australian who recently spent some time in Sequoia NP,CA I found it terribly sad that there was little reference to the Native American people in the national park information complex and when I asked the attendent if there was any literature for sale there on first peoples she said there was none. One thing we now have here is an increasing acknowledgement of indigenous people and as you say most public events here begin with an acknowledgement of traditional owners.We have also started renaming national parks with indigenous names ie. Ayer’s rock is now called Uluru. This would be a great thing for the US to begin to do too! It’s just the beginning of the long road to reconciliation. THanks for mentioning it!
On July 25 Kids4Trees completed tree planting with young Senegalese children in Dakar, and they loved it. Last word is the children are very happy at their accomplishment and watering their trees. The international movement will continue, and Kids4Trees will likely be planting with young children throughout the World.
Thanks for your encouragement and support.
Steve Redner
Executive Director
Kids4Trees
I am so grateful for Last Child in the Woods, and suddenly realized why I have had such a difficult transition from my home on 3 acres of woods,(75%of time inside the house was spent looking out); now to a rowhouse with one window looking out to one tree, and the rest looking out at buildings. I have ADHD and never consciously realized the healing effect of nature. Amazing!I REALLY miss my old house!
I am about to give a talk at my church on the relationship between nature to wonder to feelings to compassion. I read recently about a shocked observation of a health professional that a group of problem teen boys seemed to have no compassion. It does make sense now. That could be the not-too-distant result of the lack of nature in a generation of children. Thank you so much for alerting the world to this challenge, with a remedy that is painless and fun, too!
Blessings!
Jeanne Scheerbaum