Resource

Chicago Sun-Times – March 30, 2008

Chicago Sun-Times: The Importance of Nature Relief

By Andrew Herrmann
The Midwest offers ample opportunities for combating nature-deficit disorder, writes Andrew Hermmann of the Chicago Sun-Times. Referencing Richard Louv and the recent Nature Conservancy study of outdoor recreation trends, Hermmann suggests camping as one of the best ways to connect with the outdoors. [+]

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Campaign/Initiative

(San Luis Obispo) Tribune – March 30, 2008

Putting California’s Outdoor Bill of Rights into Action

By Bob Cuddy
A year after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, various public and private agencies find themselves trying to incorporate the bill’s principles into their programs for young people. In San Luis Obispo, local park directors and others have been meeting in an effort to ensure that, as the bill states, each child between four and fourteen has an opportunity to explore nature and camp under the stars. [+]

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Campaign/Initiative

KCCI 8 – April 02, 2008

Iowa County Officials Warn of Nature-Deficit Disorder

Concerned with the increasing number of hours that children spend indoors watching TV and playing video games, officials with Iowa’s Polk County Health Department and Polk County Conservation Board have started asking parents to help prevent nature-deficit disorder. To aid the effort, the Conservation Board has developed a number of programs that introduce children to nature and put the information online for easy access by parents. [+]

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Event

Denver Post – April 01, 2008

Colorado Earth Day Forum to Focus on Kids and Nature

By Charlie Meyers
In anticipation of the Colorado Earth Day Forum, entitled “Connecting Kids to Nature,” Denver Post columnist Charlie Meyers encourages parents to read Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods. Our growing disconnect from nature, Meyers writes, is “a separation that robs us both of physical exertion and a certain spiritual link that sweeps cobwebs from our souls.” The forum will be held April 22 at the Denver office of the EPA. [+]

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Campaign/Initiative

Voices – March 29, 2008

Connecticut’s Great Park Pursuit Returns

The Great Park Pursuit, a central element of Connecticut’s No Child Left Inside initiative returns this spring for its third season. The contest takes Connecticut families to seven different state parks and forests over the course of two months, and at each location teams take part in activities such as hiking and fishing. Participating families then become eligible for prizes of outdoor equipment donated by local retailers. [+]

• [>] No Child Left Inside initiative
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Event

(Minneapolis) Star Tribune – March 27, 2008

Minnesota Arboretum Hosts Children and Nature Conference

By Heron Marquez Estrada
Spurred by Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is hosting a one-day conference the first week in April designed to provide participants with ways to increase children’s exposure to nature on a daily basis. Entitled Nature, Children, and Families: A Necessary Connection, the conference is expected to attract more than 200 professionals from around the state. [+]

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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