Suz Lipman has more than 25 years experience as a writer, editor, social media manager, community builder, and advocate for getting children into nature. Suz serves as Social Media Director for the Children & Nature Network.
Teachers, have you made your summer/fall plans yet? If not, you may want to consider this offer. Our friends at Lindblad-National Geographic are inviting C&NN Natural Teachers to join them on a world class expedition to the Galapagos. And they have announced a 2-for-1 offer for teachers to travel on a 10-day Galapagos trip in [...]
Richard Louv will be appearing across the U.S. and Canada this spring in a series of book release events and presentations. Many of these local appearances are free and open to the public, providing an excellent opportunity to introduce community members and potential partners to the goals and vision of the children and nature movement. [...]
Children playing outdoors often invent their own games. Time in nature just seems to expand the imagination, as well as the freedom to make up the rules of ones choosing. Now kids 6-12 are encouraged to use their imaginations and reconnect with outdoor playtime — right in their own backyards — by creating an original [...]
In an exciting development for the Children and Nature Movement, at least eight states, and some cities and parks, have passed Children’s Outdoor Bills of Rights or Environmental Literacy Plans. There are Children’s Outdoor Bills of Rights working their way through legislatures in at least three additional states. Many of these initiatives resulted from enthusiastic [...]
We can read about the Children & Nature Network, in facts and figures that correspond to campaigns, initiatives, family nature clubs, groups, research abstracts, outdoor events, discussion forum members, and followers on various social media outlets. But the real story, of course, is in the words of people whom the Children & Nature Network has [...]
Larry Volpe, a 5th grade teacher at Daniel Lairon Elementary School in Santa Clara County, California, was recently presented with C&NN’s first Annual Teachers Award. The award was presented aboard the Lindblad Expeditions Sea Bird, during a recent C&NN event at which participants discussed the children and nature movement and ways to take it to [...]
A new report from the National Wildlife Federation, Back to School: Back Outside, shows how outdoor education and time is connected with wide-ranging academic benefits including: Improved classroom behavior Increased student motivation and enthusiasm to learn Better performance in math, science, reading and social studies Reduced Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Higher scores on standardized [...]
The idea that a prescription is necessary to get some children to go out and play is unfortunate on one level. But, taken another way, it serves as an indicator of the growing awareness among health professionals of the important role that nature contact plays in the health of children. American Academy of Pediatrics members [...]
Fall in the Northern Hemisphere often means the kind of crisp, temperate weather that is perfect for enjoying nature. A few groups are helping people find the tools and inspiration needed to do just that. Have fun celebrating Nature Rocks Day Saturday, September 25. Download an Activity Guide to do something fun on your own, [...]
Things tend to get a little slow around the blogosphere in summer, and that’s generally a good thing. It means many people are taking breaks from their desks and computers, their work and school, and are hopefully enjoying some time outside in nature. If you’re seeking more resources for summer activities, here are some ideas. [...]
This is an exciting summer for those who want to make their voices heard about President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. The America’s Great Outdoors Initiative was signed at a White House Conference on April 16. You can read the remarks and see video of President Obama, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and others. At the [...]
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership, to which C&NN belongs, has issued two new resource guides: Getting Students Active through Safe Routes to School: Policies and Action Steps for Education Policymakers and Professionals and Implementing Safe Routes to School in Low-Income Schools and Communities: A Resource Guide for Volunteers and Professionals. Getting Students Active [...]
Summer is upon us and, for many families, that means a traditional camp experience for their children. But even the camp experience has changed over the years to reflect what Richard Louv noted in 2005′s Last Child in the Woods as a “shift in our relationship to the natural world … even in settings that [...]
Updated June 1: As First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the Let’s Move Outside initiative, expanding her campaign to solve childhood obesity, a broad coalition representing the business and non-profit communities announced a national strategic partnership called the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK). OAK brings together the YMCA of the USA, REI, Sierra Club, National Wildlife [...]
News from Maine: Teacher of the Year, Films about Children and Nature
Three finalists have been announced for the 2012 Maine Teacher of the Year award. They are Ingrid Stressenger, a 4th grade teacher at Pond Cove School in Cape Elizabeth; Tim Eisenhart, a 9th grade mathematics teacher at Westbrook High School; and Alana Margeson, a 10-11th grade English teacher at Caribou High School. Ingrid Stressenger is [...]