No Child Left Inside, Part 2………Outdoor Adventures, January 23, 2009…..6

Last April I wrote about there being some concern that kids are losing touch with the outdoors. The direction of Society with kids and parents leading such busy lives is isolating them from Nature. This isolation is a detriment to their mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods, Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, says it best: “Modern landscape designs void of safe walkways, nature parks and places to play, electronic gadgetry; computers, video games and parents’ fear of perceived dangers including ‘stranger dangers’ are keeping children from enjoying creative play and maturing in the biggest arena of all, by simply being outside.”

A new kid on the block has brought hope. Louv’s observations have initiated “Leave No Child Inside” movements across the country in an effort to reconnect children to nature. Hopefully some of these will be enacted into law in order for “No Child to Be Left on Their Behinds!” What a boost this would be to both their mental and physical well-being.

On September 18, children and teachers won a big victory with the passage of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2008 in the House of Representatives. The popular, bi-partisan bill passed by a vote of 293-109. The bill was written to better prepare teachers for using hands-on environmental education to enable students to learn in the Great Outdoors. Research has shown exposure to nature helps improve student achievement in the classroom.

“Passage of the No Child Left Inside Act is a huge victory for everyone who cares about connecting kids to nature,” said Larry Schweiger, President of the National Wildlife Federation, which publishes Ranger Rick magazine and helped make passage of the bill possible. “The bipartisan support this bill garnered underscores what we all know—hands-on environmental education is good for kids. It’s good for their academic performance, their health, and for the future of our planet.”

Passage of the bill is especially timely given today’s kids spend half as much time outside as children did 20 years ago and average 44.5 hours a week in front of some form of electronic entertainment. Children are increasingly becoming disconnected from nature. Research also shows that kids who have a significant outdoor experience before age 11 are more likely to have a life-long conservation ethic.

On January 8^th at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks meeting in Emporia, the KDWP Commission endorsed the Kansas Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. The Kansas Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights was drafted in partnership with the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association and was introduced at the Kansas Health Summit in Wichita last October.

The Kansas Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights states every child should have the opportunity to:

· Walk in the footsteps of Kansas History

· Access a natural environment

· Camp under the stars

· Explore nature

· Learn to swim

· Play on a team

· Follow a trail

· Catch fish and harvest game

· Participate in the shooting sports

· Play in a safe environment

I know a lot of communities across our nation are facing an economic crunch. Please don’t cut the children short where funding is needed to introduce a new generation of youngsters to the Great Outdoors.