Local

EcoHearth – January 17, 2010

EcoHearth: How to Enjoy Nature with Your Kids

By Kim Ridley
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. [+]

• [>] Read the article.

Research & Studies | International

Reuters Life – January 07, 2010

“Nature Starvation” Worries British Royal Society

By Paul Casciato
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. [+]

• [>] Read the article.

Allies | Event

KaBOOM! Encourages Communities to “Get Outside and Play!”

By Bethe Almeras - The Grass Stain Guru
From September 19 - 27, over 1,000 communities across the U.S. will host free, fun-for-the-whole-family events that focus on the importance of play in children’s lives. Whether you are a naturalist who does children’s programming, a parent that heads-up a Family Nature Club, a recreation leader at a teen center, or a park ranger, KaBOOM! encourages you to host a Play Day in your community. [+]

Commentary | Education | Media & Culture

CBS News – August 06, 2009

CBS Puts Spotlight on Nature-Deficit Disorder

Watch CBS Videos Online


Jonathan Dorn, editor-in-chief of Backpacker magazine, made a recent appearance on The Early Show to discusses the best places in the country for raising an outdoor kid. In doing so, Dorn provided a succinct definition of nature-deficit disorder and offered advice on how city dwellers can help their children connect with nature. [+]

• [>] Watch the video.

National | Resource

ScienceDaily – August 29, 2009

Study: Active Preschoolers Healthier Later in Life

Being active at age five helps kids stay lean as they age even if they don't remain as active later in childhood, a new University of Iowa study shows. The implication, according to the study’s lead author, is that “even five-year-olds should be encouraged to be as active as possible because it pays off as they grow older.” [+]

• [>] Read the article.

National | Education | Resource

Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design – July 28, 2009

Fact Sheet Summarizes Benefits of Gardening for Children

Third- to fifth-grade students who participated in a one-year gardening program showed a significant increase in self-understanding and the ability to work in groups compared to nonparticipating students. That’s one of the many findings summarized in a new fact sheet on the benefits of gardening for children published by the Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design at the University of Colorado at Denver. [+]

• [>] Read the fact sheet.

Commentary

New York Times – April 15, 2009

New York Times: The Case for Natural Happiness

By Paul Bloom

Psychologist Paul Bloom, writing in the New York Times Magazine, offers a unique perspective on why maintaining a connection with nature is crucial for people. “Real natural habitats provide significant sources of pleasure for modern humans,” he writes. “We intuitively grasp this, and this knowledge underlies the anxiety that we feel about nature’s loss.” [+]

Research & Studies

– February 19, 2009

Nature Essential to Health, Researcher Says

By ScienceDaily
Access to nature is critical for people of all ages, according to Frances Kuo, a professor of natural resources and environmental science and psychology at the University of Illinois. “In our studies, people with less access to nature show relatively poor attention or cognitive function, poor management of major life issues, poor impulse control,” Kuo says. The beneficial effects of nature even extend to children: those with ADHD have better concentration after a walk in a park compared to a walk in an urban setting. [+]

• [>] Science Suggests Access To Nature Is Essential To Human Health

Allies | Leadership

Grist – December 18, 2007

REI Chief Bemoans Overscheduled Kids

By Sarah Van Schagen
Sally Jewell, the head of outdoor-equipment retailer REI, says in a recent interview that children spend far too much of their time in front of computer or television screens. She credits Richard Louv with putting into words her concerns about young people today. The challenge, she says, is getting technology and nature to work together for their benefit. [+]

Research & Studies

the Land Trust Alliance – July 01, 2007

The Powerful Link Between Conserving Land and Preserving Health

By Howard Frumkin and Richard Louv for the Land Trust Alliance Special Anniversary Report, 2007
Co-written by Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Richard Louv for the Land Trust Alliance Special Anniversary Report, 2007. [+] [PDF]