Distinguished speakers gather in LA to discuss nature-deficit disorder

– May 16, 2007

The Leave No Child Inside Forum:
Distinguished speakers join together to discuss nature-deficit disorder.

LOS ANGELES- On May 16, 2007, working in conjunction with the Children and Nature Network, the Sierra Club hosted the Leave No Child Inside Forum at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Eight leading decision makers with ties to California discussed, in front of over 150 local community leaders, the opportunity for California to become a leader in the Leave No Child Inside movement.


Panelist Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder speaks on the need to engage children with nature.

Richard Louv, best selling author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder opened up the evening's discussion with a stirring synopsis of the effect "Nature Deficit Disorder" is having on our local communities. Mr Louv was joined by Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club in submitting that every child deserves the right to have an outdoor experience.

The two were in agreement with representatives from the education, law enforcement, health and business community in both their observations of the negative trends and affirming their commitment to seeing a Leave No Child Inside program come to fruition in California. State Senator Alex Padilla raised the most excitement of the evening when discussing the real opportunities that lay ahead with his Senate Bill 207, which would create a systematic approach at the state level to support local community based outdoor education programs.

State Senator Alex Padilla discusses the importance of his Senate Bill 207 in the effort to give all children in California an outdoor experience as fellow panelist Ruth Coleman, Director of state parks looks on.

In fact, Ruth Coleman, Director of state parks was on hand to reconfirm her willingness and readiness to take on such a program. Both public servants expressed their optimism that this will be the year that state funds will finally be devoted to providing outdoor experiences to youth across the state.

Children and Nature Network vice-president, Cheryl Charles, moderated the event, raising important questions, sparking dialogue between panelists and fielding questions from audience members.

Sierra Club National Youth Education Director, Martin Leblanc, summarized the evening's significance, "There are so many groups working toward the same goal. Tonight's event really provided an opportunity for us to bring together diverse leaders to forge a coherent, comprehensive strategy moving forward that allows California to truly be a leader in this important movement."


Members from the audience were given a chance to ask questions of the panelists.

Panelist at the event included:

* Richard Louv, Best selling author and journalist
* Carl Pope, Executive Director- Sierra Club
* Sheriff Michael Carona, Sheriff/Coroner- Orange County Sheriff's Department
* Bill Vanderberg, Dean of Students- Crenshaw High School, LAUSD
* Andriette Ward MD, MPH, Clinical Instructor- Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
* Sally Jewel, President/CEO- Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)
* Ruth Coleman, Director- California State Parks
* Senator Alex Padilla, California State Senator (D-20)

>> Read a full transcript from the event.

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