Perhaps the most profound reason to reverse the deadly trend of the assault against nature of the last Republican 30 years, is the profound loss our children experience everyday.
The article at the title of this entry outlines a quickly growing concern of parents, teachers and their legislators. It is a movement called, "Leave No Child Left Inside."
While the picture Orion publication used to begin the discussion is of two boys, the impact of the loss of natural areas is DEEPLY effecting both boys and girls.
Richard Louv, the movement's author and researcher has complied information for those that interact with children, that reveals the 'sterile' world of computers and protective parenting, structured activities that have produced an incredible DEFICIT in these DESIGNER CHILDREN GENERATION. Richard Louv has unveiled the reality that the 'sterilizing' of the American landscape has removed, one of the most important venues of 'imagination' stimulation.
NATURE - God's Kitchen if you will.
Literally, the year 2000 examples parenting that has removed the 'daringness' of childhood and in turn has lulled their children's minds into lazy states of well being.
While these children achieve on intellectual exams, they profoundly lack the ability to be creative, inventive and daring. They are liiterally 'little cybots' of love and joy protected from every possible danger, but, they have no 'self-created' quality of life. They simply accept their world as it is handed to them. Hence, they literally have become passive learners willing to 'fill' the need of its society at the end of an educational process that caters to the 'Parental Protectorant' of the USA.
In a meeting of parents, administrators and children I listened to a five segmented DVD interlaced with discussion and the reality that occurred in the testimony of these people was astounding.
These are direct quotes:
A mother of three children, "I told my children to go to the backyard and play. No television, computers, or handheld anything, except, if they chose a 'Bug Jar. They didn't know what to do. After 30 minutes of hopeful watching that Richard Louv was wrong about my children, I went to the backyard with them and began to role model 'play' to them. I said, "You guys are the children. You are supposed to know how to play. Want some help?" With that I began to play tag, got an old Mason Jar from the cupboard and looked for ants, caterpillars and horrible spiders. I told them to climb a tree and showed them how, to listen to the birds and decide what kind of birds lived in their own yard. We prepared small scrapes from the refrigerator of squirrel snacks and eventually retired inside to await the arrival of the creatures that shared our home. The entire experience was startling to me and it is why I am here tonight."
A third grade teacher stated, "I had read the book as part of a peer discussion over the course of six months. One evening we decided it would be 'okay' to assign "Go out and play." as part of homework. So, the next day I wrote the usual homework assignment in the upper corner of the board and right in the middle wrote "Go outside and play." I received a phone call the next day from a girl's mother, she said, "My daughter took your assignment seriously. She recruited her sister to play in the backyard. They were out there for 30 minutes and didn't do much, but, they did start to appreciate the bird song. I wanted you to know that my daughter did her homework well."
Today across the spance of the USA, there are State Legislators considering law that mandates the protections of what is left of their 'Open Space.' The reason ? To keep tree huggers happy ? To satisfy the lobbiests from Sierra Club or the Nature Conservancy ? No. To add to the quality life of their State's children.
About Leave No Child Inside of Greater Cincinnati (click here)
Leave No Child Inside of Greater Cincinnati is a collaboration of organizations and individuals educating the community that time spent in nature is essential for the physical, mental and emotional health of all children....
The Leave No Child INSIDE Central Ohio Collaborative (click here)
Metro Parks Summer Courses for Educators
May 29, 2009 – 11:42 am
Metro Parks will offer 4, 2-day teacher trainingworkshops in June and July. Workshops targetacademic content standards and process skills forseveral age groups. Workshops are conducted byvarious state and local agencies and school districtrepresentatives, and are presented at a Metro Park orother Central Ohio agency site. Teachers workmostly in an outdoor setting to find ways to developmeaningful field trips and classroom and hands-onactivities with little or no classroom funding....
Regional Campaigns and Initiatives (click here)
C&NN is mapping the children and nature movement to make it easier for you to connect with efforts underway in your region or neighborhood. The C&NN movement map lists Grassroots campaigns and initiatives, Family Nature Clubs, and hands on outdoor programs and events for children and families. Search the movement map listings below by region, name, state or type. We encourage you to contact regional leaders, program directors, and event organizers, join efforts underway in your region, and invite your friends, neighbors and colleagues to join as well....
Vote “Yes” on the No Child Left Inside Act (click here)
(H.R. 3036, H.Rpt. 110-754)
Purpose: The purpose of H.R. 3036, the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act of 2008, is to support local and
statewide efforts to expand and enhance environmental education and to provide enhanced professionaldevelopment opportunities in environmental education.
Sponsors: Congressman John Sarbanes (Md.) and 64 co-sponsors (see reverse).
Committee Action: On 6/18/08, the House Committee on Education and Labor favorably reported H.R.3036by a 37-8 vote, supported by Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and Ranking Member Buck McKeon (R-CA).
New edition of a national bestseller: Last Child in the Woods (click here)
The recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal, Richard Louv identified a phenomenon we all knew existed but couldn't quite articulate: nature-deficit disorder. Since its initial publication, his book Last Child in the Woods has created a national conversation about the disconnection between children and nature, and his message has galvanized an international movement. Now, three years later, we have reached a tipping point, with the book inspiring Leave No Child Inside initiatives throughout the country....
Since the inception of the USA our founding fathers and for Presidents after them, valued the land and its asthetics to life. Join them and bring the kids.
For the entire Bush/Cheney Adminisration we heard how our lands were preserved for the day when we needed the lumber or the oil or the methane. Well, they were "W"rong. The 'land' and 'open spaces' of the USA were preserved for its beauty and the quality of life it contained for all of us.
Support The Endangered Species Act, The Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Migratory Bird Act, The Clean Water Act, The Clean Air Act and the list goes on. As American Parents we need to appreciate the natural world that is our country and reclaim it where we can.
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Access Pass - Free. (click here)
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Access Pass
This is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Documentation is required to obtain the pass. Acceptable documentation includes: statement by a licensed physician; document issued by a Federal agency such as the Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income; or document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. The pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the park. The Access Pass provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50 percent price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires....
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Volunteer Pass - Free.
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Volunteer Pass
This pass is for volunteers acquiring 500 service hours on a cumulative basis. It provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity Fee for a year, beginning from the date of award. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). Click here to learn about volunteer opportunities in the National Park Service....
