Commentary News
Toronto Star - Ontario, Canada – August 11, 2007
The rise of nature-deficit disorder
By Stephen Scharper
Toronto professor Stephen Scharper writes of his sense of loss upon hearing that the waters and woods that helped shape him in his youth were no longer there to help frame and contour the lives of our children.
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Seattle Times – September 02, 2007
The plan: No plan at all
By Danny Westneat
Journalist Danny Westneat joins what he describes as a "quiet uprising" in America; a minirebellion against the over-programming of kids. In his quest to reclaim his family and their ties with nature he opts out of organized sports, summer camps, and elaborate vacations plans to "just hang around."
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The San Francisco Chronicle – August 25, 2007
Life Lessons: Daughters and butterflies spread wings
By Susan DeMersseman
Psychologist and parent educator Susan DeMersseman discusses the need for children to see their relationship to the ever-changing natural environment and to see how they can be part of it in a positive way.
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Sacramento News & Review – June 14, 2007
OpEd By Amit Rana
By Amit Rana
Amit Rana, the Sierra Club's California youth education representative and coordinator of Building Bridges to the Outdoors, speaks out on SB 207, the California Leave No Child Inside Act, which would provide more outdoor education opportunities to California’s youth — especially at-risk kids.
Review
The Philadelphia Inquirer – June 27, 2007
An idea as dangerous as all outdoors
By Karen Heller
“The Dangerous Book for Boys.” What is that about? This retro-edition book about any number of politically incorrect things boys can do as they play outdoors, from skinning a rabbit to waterproofing matches, celebrates an era of boyish innocence and inspires a newspaper columnist to consider the larger issue of nature-deficit disorder.
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Built Environment
Wild Zones – August 01, 2007
Introducing Wild Zones
By David Hawkins
David Hawkins, founding project manager of the Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley, Calif., discusses the concept of Wild Zones, places where kids can build shelters, dam creeks, make trails, and perform other active outdoors tasks. Wild Zones, he says, offer open-ended possibilities for play, creativity, socializing, and solitude.
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C&NN has designated April "Children & Nature Awareness Month." As part of this effort, we invited network members (like you) to list their April programs and share their strategies for building public awareness. Find out what's happening in your community on the C&NN Movement Map.
As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published two new resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels:
An annotated bibliography of 20 premier studies focusing on the children and nature connection.
