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Youngsters go back to Earth
Youngsters go back to Earth
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/n...l/15167625.htm Tue, Aug. 01, 2006 By Kellie Patrick Inquirer Staff Writer The morning sun warmed a small Churchville Nature Center pond and the backs of two 6-year-old boys who crouched over the water in search mode. "Is the frog still there?" C.J. Donofry asked hopefully. "He's under this leaf!" said Michael Bedard, pointing. Many naturalists, teachers and others who work with children believe experiences like the boys' frog hunt have become far too rare. Instead, they say, children are increasingly spending their playtime indoors - often with electronic gadgets. "They cannot identify birds - even common birds like a cardinal - but they can tell you what level of Pokemon gives the most points," said Lisa Buffardi, an environmental educator who was leading the program that recently brought C.J. and Michael to Churchville Nature Center in Bucks County. "Some of them are really afraid to be outdoors," said Kristina Merola, a naturalist at Palmyra Cove Nature Park and Environmental Discovery Center in Burlington County. When school groups come to the center, children frequently scream when they see an insect - even if it's nowhere near them, she said. Lower Merion Conservancy Executive Director Mike Weilbacher said he saw playground equipment stand idle in his own neighborhood. "I have to beg, cajole or bribe my own kids to go outside. My default setting was outside. Theirs is inside. It's heartbreaking, but it's true." But those who worry that kids lack a connection with nature say there's much more to it than nostalgia. They worry that children who do not learn to love nature now will not protect the environment later. The lack of outdoor play has contributed to obesity, they say. And they cite studies indicating nature is crucial to emotional and mental health. Debbie Donofry, C.J.'s mother, needs no study to persuade her. The time her son spends at Tyler State Park and in his backyard relaxes him, she said. "Fishing teaches him patience," she said. "And there's the exploration - with nature you just never know what's going to happen." Many in the get-outside movement say their mission is getting help from the bestsellingbook Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder. Author Richard Louv, a San Diego journalist who has written several books on children and families, said he was prompted to write after what he heard in thousands of interviews with parents and children from across the country: Many kids were spending little time outside, and parents worried they were missing out on something important. When he turned to the researchers, he found studies showing the parents were right. "There were studies at the University of Illinois that showed kids with ADD symptoms get much better with a little contact in nature," he said. The researchers suggested that time in nature be added to the other two traditional therapies for Attention Deficit Disorder, behavior modification and drugs. Other studies show that students who spend class time outdoors perform better and patients whose hospital rooms had nature scapes got well faster, he said. Louv said he has been surprised that his book has touched a nerve with so many diverse people - rural and urban, religious and secular, political left and right. The book has sold more than 140,000 copies, and he's received 400 requests to speak. Why children spend more time with GameBoys and computers than outside romping through the woods or watching ants crawl on sidewalks is complicated, experts say. Most say the overriding cause is parental fear. Parents are worried about strangers' snatching their kids, about mosquitoes' giving them West Nile virus, or ticks inflicting Lyme disease. Buffardi says she could never let her children run free as she did growing up in Philadelphia because drivers speed on her Feasterville street. Wherever those who work with nature gather, talk turns to how to get children out of the house. The title of next spring's Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Educators conference? "No Child Left Inside." The goal of the conference is "to talk about how people working with kids can get them outside," said association president Kathleen Geist, a teacher at Philadelphia's Green Woods Charter School. Located in the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Green Woods places an emphasis on nature. The conference, which will be held in Wilkes-Barre, will show participants how to teach about nature in urban settings. "Even a school that is on asphalt can use the out-of-doors," said Geist. There's always insects, birds, the sky and weather, she said. To overcome parent fears, programs are offering supervised and structured experiences with nature, said Weilbacher. An example is the conservancy's nighttime walks to check out bat behavior. Palmyra Cove, on the Delaware River, added a series of family activities last November, such as beach walks and introductory birdwatching. And in September, they will add a twice-a-week program for preschoolers. At Churchville Nature Center, facilities are being added in hope of offering more family-oriented classes. While working with the 6- and 7-year-olds, Buffardi, the environmental educator, seemed determined to teach the kids everything she could in the two hours she had them that day. They followed her around like a clutch of goslings. She showed them the difference between damselflies and dragonflies, taught them how the swampy ground around them was like a sponge, a strainer and a nursery, and showed them how to scoop small creatures from the pond without hurting them. C.J. and Michael netted themselves a giant of a tadpole that will grow into a bullfrog like the one they had earlier seen slumped down in the mud. "Yesssssss!" said C.J., as he raised his arms above his head in Rocky-style celebration. --- Contact staff writer Kellie Patrick at 610-313-8127 Taking It Outside Here are some tips on getting children into the outdoors: · Let part of your yard grow wild. More insects and animals will visit, and kids can turn over rocks to see what's living underneath. · Plant a garden or plant flowers or vegetables in containers. This helps young people understand how plants grow and where food comes from. · Take advantage of "nearby nature." A grassy lot or a few trees at the end of a street can hold a world of wonder. · Look up. Encourage kids to pay attention to clouds, birds, stars and weather. · Encourage schools to take kids outside for play or lessons. · Join forces with other parents and take kids on nature field trips. · Don't worry if you don't know much about nature. Experts say kids learn from adults' positive attitudes about nature. And learning together can be fun for adults and kids. · Counties' department of recreation Web sites have links to parks and nature centers, many of which offer programs designed for children or families. For the park sites and other nature programs go to http://go.philly.com/nature - Kellie Patrick SOURCE: Inquirer research Online Extra For a slideshow and links to information on nature programs for children and families, go to http://go.philly.com/nature |
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