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December 2008
NEW ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON offers encouragement to supporters of the children and nature movement
The arrival of a new administration in Washington has raised the hopes of people across the country. And while it remains to be seen whether the promise of change will result in, say, lasting protections for the environment, a few recent developments have offered encouragement to supporters of the children and nature movement.
 First there was the choice of Colorado Senator Ken Salazar to be Secretary of the Interior. Soon after the nomination was announced, Salazar was earning praise for a “clear commitment throughout his career to reconnecting children and nature.”
Another positive development occurred in Illinois, where the newly installed governor vowed to fight nature-deficit disorder. In his first press conference upon assuming office, Governor Pat Quinn spoke of the need to connect children with nature and the importance of keeping the state’s parks open. “I think in these hard times, where a lot of families can’t take a lot of vacations out of state, our state parks are precious.”
Illinois also boasts a new Department of Natural Resources director, Marc Miller, who has been charged by Governor Quinn with making sure that “no child [is] left inside.” Those are encouraging words to people within the children and nature movement, and perhaps a sign of more good things to come both locally and nationally.
 Interior Nominee Praised for Children and Nature Efforts
Supporters of the children and nature movement were quick to praise President-Elect Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, Colorado Senator Ken Salazar. In the words of National Park Trust Board Chairman William Brownell, Senator Salazar “has substantial experience with parks and public lands and has shown a clear commitment throughout his career to reconnecting children and nature.” [+]
 Incoming Illinois Governor Vows to Fight Nature-Deficit Disorder
In his first press conference since assuming office, Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois spoke of the need to connect children with nature and the importance of keeping the state’s parks open. “I think in these hard times where a lot of families can’t take a lot of vacations out of state,” he told reporters, “our state parks are precious.” [+]
 New state DNR chief has long-standing love of outdoors
Mark Miller's father and grandfather taught him that if he took care of nature, nature would take care of him. Miller, appointed by Governor Quinn to head the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has two main goals during his tenure; to increase outdoor opportunities of all kinds and to get more young people outside.
“We spent a lot of my early childhood (on the farm),” Miller told The Pantagraph. “It was a wonderful place to connect with the land.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM C&NN:
 April is Children and Nature Awareness Month
Are you planning regional or
community events, family activities, outdoor
adventures, or educational programs during the month of April?
C&NN invites you to submit your April programs for posting on the C&NN movement map. Last year's month-long celebration featured over 180 regional events and programs.
Regster and subimt your evetns today. C&NN will promote
your April events and programs throughout the month of April, and listings submitted
by March 15th will be included in the March Awareness Week Press Release and announcement to C&NN's
5000 network members. [+]
 C&NN Pubishes Nature Clubs for Families Tool Kit
C&NN Nature Clubs for Families Tool Kit: Do It Yourself! Do It Now! provides inspiration, information, tips and resources for those who are—or who might be—interested in creating a Nature Club for Families. [+]
Powerful New Archive Search Tool
The Children & Nature Network news archive has gone through a major upgrade. Over two years of rechived news articles, research, and the C&NN Blog, can now be search by key word or date of publication. Archived items can also be sorted by title, date, section or Author.[+]
http://www.childrenandnature.org/search/archive/
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