San Diego Proclaims April Children and Nature Awareness Month
Children & Nature Network – March 30, 2009
CHILDREN AND NATURE AWARENESS MONTH
Presented by Councilmember Todd Gloria
Approved by the City of San Diego Council, March 30, 2009
WHEREAS, the Children and Nature Network was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature; and
WHEREAS, the Children and Nature Network provides a critical link between researchers, individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, between 1960 and 2004, the percentage of American children classified as overweight increased from 4% to 19%; and
WHEREAS, children today are far less likely than their parents to spend time playing in nature and spend an average of 6.5 hours per day watching TV, playing video games and using computers; and
WHEREAS, when children spend more time outside and in nature their level of stress decreases and their physical activity, self-confidence and ability to focus increase; and
WHEREAS, adults who have had frequent childhood experiences in nature, visit nature more frequently as adults and view it more positively; and
WHEREAS, San Diego is blessed with canyons, rivers, creeks, wetlands and beaches that are home to an extraordinary variety of plants and animals, and San Diego children deserve to experience their wonder and beauty directly;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Diego, that this Council, for and on behalf of the people of San Diego, does hereby commend the Children and Nature Network for its continued work to reconnect children with nature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that April 2009, be and is hereby proclaimed to be, “CHILDREN AND NATURE AWARENESS MONTH” in the City of San Diego.
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