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October 2008
Sense of Purpose Thrives at 2008 Grassroots Gathering
More than 107 dedicated professionals from over 70 regions and all walks of life gathered in September to attend the second annual C&NN Gathering of Grassroots Leaders.
Each year, leaders in the children and nature movement meet to participate in open forums, share information, and network.
The theme of this year's conference, “Natural Connections: Tipping Points to Cultural Change,” was at the center of the three-day dialogue.
One important addition to this year's event was the participation of emergent youth leaders. As part of C&NN's "Natural Leaders™" initiative, they came to the gathering to help develop and define the strategies and solutions for engaging youth and to ensure that their voices and values are a core component of the growing children and nature movement.
 “This felt like a place where I could come and listen,” Alexis Sanford told the Natural Leaders, “a place where social change might happen. You guys are like a single nervous system in a powerful new body.”
The "Natural Leaders: Growing Youth Involvement" forum was one of ten break-out sessions that were held during the September conference at the Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska. Other sessions included "Designing and Building Naturally Better Play Spaces," "Connecting with Health Care Professionals," "Natural Allies: The Parents' Campaign," "Nature Clubs for Families," "Shining a Light with More and New Allies," and "Implementing the C&NN Community Action Guide."
On the final day of the gathering over 40 participants made a deeper commitment to participating year-round as members of the C&NN Grassroots Leadership Team Working Groups. These groups are dedicated to continuing the discussion and turning the ideas and recommendations proposed over the three day event into tools, strategies, resources, and new campaigns to support, inspire and fuel the children and nature movement.
[+] read the report
Passage of No Child Left Inside Act Suggests New Era for Nature in Education
Sep 20th, 2008 by Richard Louv
Talk about great timing. On September 18, during C&NN’s 2008 Children & Nature Grassroots Gathering in Nebraska, mobile phones in the room lit up with good news: The U.S. House of Representatives had just voted to approve the No Child Left Inside Act of 2008. This was an extraordinary moment – symbolizing just how far the children and nature movement has come in just a few short years.
[+] read the BLOG by Richard Louv
[+] find out more on the No Child Left Inside Coalition Web site
2008 Bioneers Conference Gathers Leading-Edge Environmental Innovators to Address Key Social Issues Including Children & Nature
Each October in San Rafael, Calif., the Bioneers Conference convenes leading social and scientific innovators to share stories, present model solutions and network with each other.
This year C&NN President Cheryl Charles was one of three presenters in the Re-Naturing Education session.She joined David Orr, a member of the C&NN Board of Advisors and the nation’s leading figure in environmental studies and eco-literacy in higher education and Fritjof Capra, among the world’s most important systems thinkers and authors, as well as co-founder and board chair of the Center for Ecoliteracy.
Cheryl also presented in the Children and Nature session, which explored ways to nurture the connection kids have with the natural world. Other panelists included Gary Paul Nabhan, author of The Geography of Childhood and Kimberly Danek Pinkson, president of the EcoMom Alliance, linking mothers from Mumbai to Montana, Nigeria to New York.
To find out more about Bioneers and the annual conference visit their Web site at:
[+] Bioneers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency video explores the value of urban wetland
 In “Wetlands and Wonder: Reconnecting Children with Nearby Nature,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency makes a passionate case for protecting urban wetlands as places to experience nature.
The film focuses on urban and suburban wetlands as valuable resources to be restored, protected and enjoyed. These places, often the only remnants of the natural world in developed areas, can play a key role in connecting people to nearby nature—thereby improving the health of our children and our communities.
[+] read more
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NEWS IN REVIEW
Field Notes from the Future
Passage of
"No Child Left Inside Act" Suggests New Era for Nature in Education
This month, C&NN's online column features a new article by author and C&NN Chairman Richard Louv.
[+] read the BLOG
REGIONAL NEWS
Acadia Park Chief Promoting Leave No Child Inside
Memphis Groups Focus on Getting Kids Outside
Bay Area Discovery Museum Encourages Free Play
Nature-Deficit Disorder Focus of California Biodiversity Conference
Maine Governor’s Conference on Youth and the Natural World
Kalamazoo Chosen as Demonstration City
Montana Children and Nature Summit Sept. 23
Iowa Voters Asked to Combat Nature-Deficit Disorder
New Jersey Parks Commission Reaches Out to Infants
North Carolina Zoo to Build Outdoor Classroom
Governor Kicks Off Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature
Maryland No Child Left Inside Rally
Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Task Force Submits Report
Nebraska Hosts Children and Nature Conference
Park Supporters Celebrate Success in Los Angeles
NATIONAL NEWS
Take a Child Outside Week Gaining Ground
ABC7 News Reports on Nature-Deficit Disorder
New NWF Program Encourages Families to Make Tracks
Nickelodeon Promoting Worldwide Day of Play
WSJ: Why Safe Kids Are Becoming Fat Kids
INTERNATIONAL
Canadian Report Sounds Alarm on Kids
Woodland Therapy Taking Root in UK
UK Officials to Schools: Skinned Knees Are OK
Canada Launches “Get Out” TV Campaign
Sir David Attenborough: Children Losing Touch with Nature
ALLIES
OIA Asks Members to Take Kids Outdoors
Toyota Funds Yellowstone Programs for Kids
RESEARCH & STUDIES
Study: Nature Walks Help Kids Concentrate
Kids Need Much More Vitamin D, Doctors Say
Study: As Children Grow, Activity Slows
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