http://www.cnaturenet.org/news/ Movement News & Commentary en Children and Nature Network Copyright 2010 2010-02-07T18:13:03+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/salazar_unveils_new_youth_in_the_great_outdoors_initiative/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/salazar_unveils_new_youth_in_the_great_outdoors_initiative/ Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar emphasized the importance of connecting young people with nature when he proposed significant expansion of the Youth in the Great Outdoors initiative. “The future of America’s treasured landscapes depends upon the next generation’s understanding of and connection to the great outdoors," said Salazar. As part of his FY 2011 budget proposal, Salazar is requesting large increases in education and recreation programs that engage youth of all ages. National, Access, Legislation/Policy 2010-02-08T19:12:57+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/groups_ask_first_lady_to_include_outdoor_in_nature_component/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/groups_ask_first_lady_to_include_outdoor_in_nature_component/ In the wake of First Lady Michelle Obama's announcement that she will be leading a special nationwide initiative to combat childhood obesity, a number of organizations have written her an open letter urging this initiative to include an “outdoors in nature” component. The National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and the Children & Nature Network are among the groups that signed the letter. National, Health, Campaign/Initiative, Legislation/Policy 2010-02-07T18:15:45+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/progress_made_on_ndd_but_not_enough/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/progress_made_on_ndd_but_not_enough/ Conservationists are applauding President Obama's inclusion of funding for environmental literacy in his recent budget request. This represents progress, says outdoor journalist Bill Schneider, but it will take much more to win the fight against nature-deficit disorder. 2010-02-07T17:13:03+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/ecoearth_how_to_enjoy_nature_with_your_kids/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/ecoearth_how_to_enjoy_nature_with_your_kids/ Journalist Kim Ridley has compiled a list of tips to help families connect with nature. Her article also includes pointers to online resources such as the National Audubon Society's guide to creating a healthy yard for attracting wildlife. Local, Health 2010-02-07T17:09:47+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/des_moines_park_to_feature_natural_play_area/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/des_moines_park_to_feature_natural_play_area/ A northeast Des Moines park soon will be the first in the city that uses the local environment to create a natural playscape. The redesigned park will include a labyrinth made from bushes, a small tunnel, and a log course. According to a supervisor at the parks department, the overall goal of the redo is to encourage unstructured play. 2010-02-07T17:06:21+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/u.s._surgeon_general_advocates_outdoor_play/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/u.s._surgeon_general_advocates_outdoor_play/ In her first release to the nation, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin is encouraging communities to build and enhance infrastructures to support more walking and bicycling, and to improve the safety of neighborhoods to facilitate outdoor physical activity. The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation highlights the alarming trend of obesity in this country, especially among young people, and asks all Americans to join her in a grassroots effort to commit to changes that promote the health and wellness of our families and communities. 2010-01-31T16:17:57+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/colorado_lt._gov._releases_kids_outdoors_report/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/colorado_lt._gov._releases_kids_outdoors_report/ Colorado Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien has issued a report that outlines some of the barriers that prevent Colorado kids from spending time in the outdoors and recommends next steps for removing those barriers. At the same time, two Colorado state legislators have introduced a bill that will help reconnect kids with nature through science-based education and direct experience of the outdoors. 2010-01-31T16:14:52+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/neef_fact_sheet_represents_a_useful_resource/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/neef_fact_sheet_represents_a_useful_resource/ The National Environmental Education Foundation has published a Children's Health and Nature Fact Sheet that summarizes research on the current state of children's health, the benefits of nature time, and recommendations for reconnecting children and nature. The fact sheet is part of the NEEF's larger Children and Nature Initiative to improve the mental and physical well-being of young people through outdoor activity. 2010-01-31T16:08:24+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/1.6_million_schoolyard_garden_coming_to_brooklyn/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/1.6_million_schoolyard_garden_coming_to_brooklyn/ The New York Times reported recently on plans to create the first New York affiliate of the Edible Schoolyard program at P.S. 216 in Brooklyn. Administrators hope the garden, which will feature a kitchen classroom, a chicken coop, a composting system, and even a movable greenhouse, will help the school become a center for the study of the environment and agriculture. 2010-01-31T16:05:23+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/generation_m2_media_in_the_lives_of_8-_to_18-year-olds/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/generation_m2_media_in_the_lives_of_8-_to_18-year-olds/ A national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the amount of time young people spend with entertainment media has risen dramatically, especially among minority youth. 2010-01-29T17:51:58+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/albuquerque_passes_no_child_left_inside_resolution/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/albuquerque_passes_no_child_left_inside_resolution/ The Albuquerque City Council has offered its unanimous support for the Leave No Child Inside Coalition of New Mexico. The coalition brings together nearly 150 organizations and individuals in the state that are trying to combat nature-deficit disorder. 2010-01-24T16:39:51+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/new_study_finds_kids_online_7.5_hours_a_day/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/new_study_finds_kids_online_7.5_hours_a_day/ The average young American now spends practically every waking minute—except for the time in school—using a smart phone, computer, television, or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The study also found a link between heavy media use and several negatives, including behavior problems and lower grades. Research & Studies, Media & Culture, Resource 2010-01-24T16:37:03+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/michelle_obama_to_launch_childhood_obesity_effort/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/michelle_obama_to_launch_childhood_obesity_effort/ First Lady Michelle Obama will soon launch a major initiative to combat childhood obesity. As she told a recent meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the initiative will combine the resources of the federal government with the local efforts of mayors, the knowledge gathered by foundations, and the tireless foot soldiers from nonprofit organizations. 2010-01-24T16:34:34+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/bateman_named_honourary_chair_of_canadian_alliance/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/bateman_named_honourary_chair_of_canadian_alliance/ Artist and conservationist Robert Bateman has joined Richard Louv as an Honourary Chair of the Child and Nature Alliance. One of Canada’s best know artists and a spokesman for many environmental and preservation issues, Bateman brings a wealth of knowledge in philanthropy, education, and creativity to the role. 2010-01-24T16:31:10+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/npr_does_spending_time_outdoors_prevent_myopia/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/npr_does_spending_time_outdoors_prevent_myopia/ As the percentage of nearsighted Americans grows, researchers continue their search for a possible cause. One recently published article suggests that the amount of time children spend outdoors could be a factor. 2010-01-17T16:40:38+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/arizona_republic_calls_for_support_of_get_outdoors_initiative/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/arizona_republic_calls_for_support_of_get_outdoors_initiative/ The editorial board of the Arizona Republic has offered an enthusiastic endorsement of the Be Outdoors Arizona initiative: "Be Outdoors Arizona can be a powerful way to reconnect children with our natural wonderland. It deserves support and participation." 2010-01-17T16:36:04+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/new_york_playground_designed_to_combat_nature-deficit_disorder/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/new_york_playground_designed_to_combat_nature-deficit_disorder/ The principal landscape architect of a new $3.8 million playground in New York City is being congratulated for consulting experts in cognitive development before deciding where to plant trees in the new state-of-the-art park. The experts noted that kids respond more creatively to natural environments than to excessively groomed ones, so the architect responded with a more complex layout to foster imaginative play. Local, Built Environment 2010-01-17T16:31:27+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nature_starvation_worries_british_royal_society/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nature_starvation_worries_british_royal_society/ The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity, says it has uncovered a worrying trend of "nature starvation" among young Britons. The society surveyed 1,000 people, and found that only a third of those under 35 feel connected to the natural world, compared with more than half of those over 35. Research & Studies, International, Health 2010-01-10T16:25:19+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/new_american_doll_aims_to_get_girls_outdoors/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/new_american_doll_aims_to_get_girls_outdoors/ American Doll has created a new doll to help encourage girls to spend more time outdoors and connect with nature. The company partnered with the National Wildlife Federation to develop free classroom curriculum materials to support the effort. Allies, Education, Media & Culture 2010-01-10T16:21:30+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/usa_today_books_on_raising_nature-loving_kids/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/usa_today_books_on_raising_nature-loving_kids/ USA Today reporter Wendy Koch recently introduced readers to a number of books written to help parents raise children who love the outdoors. The Green Hour: A Daily Dose of Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids and Grow Your Own Tree Hugger were among the books reviewed. 2010-01-10T16:18:18+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/women_to_fight_nature-deficit_disorder_with_garden/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/women_to_fight_nature-deficit_disorder_with_garden/ Two women in the Northern California city of Saratoga are trying to battle nature-deficit disorder in their community by developing a children's garden. The project is tentatively called the Saratoga Creek Heritage Farm and Garden, and has the preliminary approval of the local city council. 2010-01-10T16:12:56+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/sesame_street_kicks_off_nature-filled_season/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/sesame_street_kicks_off_nature-filled_season/ Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a two-year environmental "curriculum" that aims to educate children about the wonders of the natural world and teach them about concepts such as habitats, hibernation, and migration. As one of the people responsible for the program put it, "We want kids to know there's nature in their neighborhoods" no matter where they live. 2010-01-03T17:20:57+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nature-deficit_disorder_tops_list_of_important_stories/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/nature-deficit_disorder_tops_list_of_important_stories/ Journalist Bill Schneider has compiled his list of the important outdoor stories of 2009. In terms of long-term significance, he says, "my pick for the top story of not only 2009 but also of the 21st century is the pandemic of nature-deficit disorder, a term so aptly coined by Richard Louv in his best-selling outdoor book, Last Child in the Woods." 2010-01-03T17:17:32+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/children_and_nature_focus_of_developmental_journal/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/children_and_nature_focus_of_developmental_journal/ The Journal of the Developmental Processes devotes its latest issue to the subject of children and nature. The collection of articles brings together multiple disciplines, methodologies, and cultural perspectives to examine the when, how, where, and why of children's engagement with nature. 2010-01-03T17:01:31+00:00 http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/park_aims_to_keep_kids_in_nature_during_winter/ http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/park_aims_to_keep_kids_in_nature_during_winter/ Recognizing that outdoor play should be part of childhood no matter the season, Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio offers residential programs for school groups throughout the year. The park also offers special winter Junior Ranger programs such as snowshoe hikes and sledding by moonlight. 2010-01-03T16:57:11+00:00