Health | Resource

nytimes.com – October 17, 2008

Study: Nature Walks Help Kids Concentrate

By Tara Parker-Hope

In a small but tightly controlled recent study, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that a nature walk worked as well or better than a dose of medication on a child’s ability to concentrate. The participants—seventeen children with ADHD—were able to focus better after a walking in parks than they were after walking in residential neighborhoods or downtown areas. [+]

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Event

California Biodiversity Council – September 25, 2008

Nature-Deficit Disorder Focus of Biodiversity Conference

The California Biodiversity Council’s next meeting will focus on nature-deficit disorder, a condition the council says is now “running rampant.” The meeting, scheduled for October 8, will look at how member land management agencies can and should address nature-deficit disorder, and feature presentations from organizations that are having success reconnecting kids with nature. [+]

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Campaign/Initiative

National Wildlife Federation – August 25, 2008

New NWF Program Encourages Families to Make Tracks

The National Wildlife Federation has created a program that encourages families to discover and reconnect with nature with the first annual Make Tracks Family Trail Weekend. Scheduled for the three-day weekend that starts October 11, the program is part of the federation’s Green Hour campaign, which urges parents to give their kids a daily dose of nature. [+]

• [>] visit NWF's Make Tracks web site

Media & Culture

NBC – July 16, 2008

Richard Louv, Nature Clubs on Today Show

NBC’s top-rated Today Show featured a report July 16 on nature-deficit disorder and one Virginia parent’s efforts to help other families connect with nature. Host Ann Curry then conducted an in-studio interview with Richard Louv, who summarized the benefits that nature can have on children and the Children & Nature Network’s ongoing work to help people form local nature clubs.
[+]

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Media & Culture

National Wildlife Federation

Great American Backyard Campout Set for June 28

With high gas prices keeping families closer to home this summer, it seems likely that fewer children will be chasing fireflies and sleeping under the stars. That fact alone gives the National Wildlife Federation’s fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout added relevance.

The event, in which more than 40,000 people participated last year, is scheduled for June 28. [+]

• [>] Great American Backyard Campout

Access

PRWeb – June 11, 2008

New Car-Sharing Program Helps Youth Reach Nature

Bay Area Wilderness Training and City CarShare are making it easier and more affordable for youth educators to take groups of kids on outdoor excursions. BAWT recently purchased two all-wheel-drive minivans, each capable of carrying up to seven people, for the City CarShare fleet. The hope is that making these “BAWTmobiles” available for short-term use will help youth educators avoid the legal, administrative, and financial hurdles that often prevent field trips. [+]

• [>] Bay Area Wilderness Training

Natural Leader Tamara Poles and Virginia Museum of Natural History are Putting People Back in Touch with Nature

Nearly 13,000 people have taken part in 247 programs of the Community Nature Initiative. [+]

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TRACK Trails Offer Nationwide Weapon Against Nature-Deficit Disorder

New interpretive trail system for kids comes to U.S. national parks. [+]

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Applications Open for 2012 TogetherGreen Fellowships and Innovation Grants

Audubon & Toyota seek to fund promising conservation leaders and community-based projects. [+]

“No Child Left Ashore” Movement Makes Waves

SF Bay Area's Pegasus Project gets students out on the water, where transformations occur. [+]

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Play England Calls for Support to Help Kids Play Outside

Research shows that 21% of children play outdoors daily, compared to 71% during their parents'… [+]

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A Healing Place for Children

C&NN Founding Chair Richard Louv consulting on new children's treatment center in MN, which is… [+]

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National Kids to Parks Day Set for May 19

Nationwide day of outdoor play organized by National Park Trust. Classroom contest ends March 1. [+]

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Chevy Chase, MD, Preschool Encourages Learning Outside the Box

Preschoolers spend at least half a day outside in woods, in all seasons. [+]

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Study: Preschoolers Need to Get a Move On

Most pre-school children spend hours doing sedentary activities instead of playing outside, research has shown. [+]

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• [>] Read more about the AAP study