Media & Culture News
Research & Studies | Resource
New York Times – January 20, 2010
New Study Finds Kids Plugged-In 7.5 Hours a Day
By Tamar Lewin
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.
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Commentary | Review
Burlington Free Press – December 06, 2009
Vermont Filmmaker Explores Positive Influence of Nature
By Joel Banner Baird
Vermont filmmaker Camilla Rockwell’s new documentary explores how time spent in nature influences child health and development, and suggests ways that adults can revive young people's appetite for the outdoors. As Rockwell tells the Burlington Free Press, she was inspired to create the film after reading Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods.
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Commentary | National | Resource
Vancouver Sun – September 22, 2009
Ken Burns National Parks Documentary Series Premieres on PBS
By Alex Strachan
The National Park’s: America’s Best Idea, a six-night documentary series by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns, airs on PBS starting September 27. Burns hopes the series will encourage more city dwellers and rural residents alike to visit their national parks and to revisit that part of them that resides in nature.
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Allies | Campaign/Initiative
MarketWatch – September 22, 2009
The North Face Launches Website to Connect People with the Outdoors
Outdoor retailer The North Face has announced the Bay Area launch of PlanetExplore, a new online community that aims to connect people to the outdoors by serving as a hub for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, climbing, and running in their area. As part of PlanetExplore, The North Face has partnered with the Children & Nature Network, Outward Bound, the Sierra Club, and other organizations that promote outdoor participation. Later in 2009, PlanetExplore will launch in Denver and New York City.
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Commentary | Education | Health
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.
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International | Resource
Times of London – July 14, 2009
Louv Introduces British Readers to Children and Nature Movement
By Richard Louv
In a lengthy article for the Times of London, Richard Louv introduces readers of the paper, as well as those of its affiliates across the globe, to the children and nature movement and summarizes some of the recent efforts within the UK and elsewhere to raise awareness of nature-deficit disorder. These include the just-released survey of 3,000 British parents by the National Trust, last year’s Report to Natural England on Childhood and Nature, and a BBC Wildlife Magazine survey that found many children in the UK cannot identify common species like bluebells and frogs. Louv’s article coincides with the British publication of his Last Child in the Woods this month.
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National
Good Housekeeping – April 23, 2009
Good Housekeeping: How to Get Kids Outdoors
By Meagan Frances
The most recent issue of Good Housekeeping magazine offers parents helpful solutions for overcoming some of the most common barriers that keep children indoors. Among its recommendations: set clear limits so kids know what’s safe, challenge your children, and prioritize outdoor playtime.
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Commentary
The Canadian Press – December 09, 2008
Removal of Nature Words from Dictionary Causes Uproar
A decision by the publisher of the Oxford Junior Dictionary to replace words like “beaver” and “dandelion” with “blog” and “MP3 player” has prompted some to react with outrage. As noted wildlife artist and conservationist Robert Bateman observed, “If you can’t name things, how can you love them? And if you don't love them, then you’re not going to care a hoot about protecting them or voting for issues that would protect them.” [+]
International | Campaign/Initiative
Persil – July 18, 2008
Persil Promotes Free Play in UK Campaign
Persil, a well-known maker of laundry detergents in the UK, is touting the benefits of unstructured outdoor play in a new national campaign aimed at parents. The company surveyed mothers, a majority of whom agreed that society had lost sight of the importance of play in a child’s learning process. The “every child has the right” campaign includes a television commercial in which a robot becomes a boy when it ventures outdoors and a website with tips to help families make free play a priority once again.
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Allies | Leadership
BassPro Video Game Trade-in; 15% off to Get Kids Out
By BassPro
BassPro announces one of the most innovative strategies we've seen to date for getting kids outdoors. This week, all around the country, kids and adults will be turning in their video games for a 15% discount off fishing gear, water sports items, tents, sleeping bags and footwear.
"One of the most exciting and invigorating places to go this summer is just beyond your front door," said Larry Whiteley, Bass Pro Shops Manager of Communications. "Bass Pro Shops is committed to helping adults and children across the nation put away their laptops, video games, PDAs and cell phones this summer and head outdoors.
Commentary
QUEST series focuses on Nature Deficit Disorder
On May 12, San Francisco's KQED Public Television series QUEST aired this special report on why we need nature, and efforts to encourage children to play outdoors.
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Allies
Huffington Post – February 24, 2010
James Cameron: We All Suffer from Nature-Deficit Disorder
By Deborah Schoeneman
At a recent benefit for the Natural Resources Defense Council, director James Cameron talked about trying to change people's perceptions about the natural world though the blockbuster Avatar. Cameron described himself as a "nature geek" and told the audience at the fundraiser that we all suffer from nature-deficit disorder.
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Research & Studies | International
The Telegraph – February 20, 2010
British Study Attributes Nature Disconnect to Parents’ Fears
By Julie Henry
British researchers have found that parents tend to limit family excursions to the countryside because of their own fears. The countryside, it seems, is out of the comfort zone of many affluent, suburban parents today.
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Allies | Education
Parent Dish – December 30, 2009
New American Doll Aims to Get Girls Outdoors
By Honey Berk
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.
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National | Campaign/Initiative
San Francisco Chronicle – September 25, 2009
Youth Outreach at Core of Major National Parks Report
By Peter Fimrite
A new report by the National Parks Second Century Commission encourages parks administrators, legislators, educators, and others to focus on engaging youth in their efforts moving forward. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, in accepting the report from the 26-member commission, remarked, "We have a real need to reconnect people to our outdoors and the natural world. This is especially important for our young people."
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Commentary
Kansas City Star – July 12, 2009
Using Twitter to Sell the Appeal of the Outdoors
By Chad Day
As the Kansas City Star reports, one of the biggest challenges facing conservationists, fishing enthusiasts, and others trying to interest young people in the outdoors is that this younger generation is essentially an indoor generation. The key to reaching them, then, may be using social-networking tools like Facebook and Twitter.
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International
3News – April 28, 2009
New Zealand TV Reports on Nature-Deficit Disorder
By Fran Price
A recent report on New Zealand’s 3 News TV looked at nature-deficit disorder and ways parents can interest their children in the outdoors.
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As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published two new resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels:
