No Child Left Inside-Strategies To Engage Kids in Nature

What if I told you that there is a simple way to improve your health, that doesn’t cost a penny?  Would you take advantage of it?  Here is the tip; get outside. 
 
Last week I discussed some of the barriers that are preventing us from getting outdoors and reaping the enormous health benefits of doing so.  This week, I will be discussing some ways that may help us overcome these challenges.  Here we go:

-Have play clothes available.  Schools collect outdoor wear; maybe make a ‘mudroom’.
 
-Campaign to teachers, kids, parents, churches, public policy makers, and government on the health benefits of outdoor activities.
 
-Community and school gardens-require a dedicated team.  To learn more about these types of gardens, check out Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in Raleigh or The Grow Zone Willow Springs Elementary Garden.  Looking for more kids gardening resources?

• Advocates for Health in Action
• Growing Minds 
• Kids Gardening

-Vacation at National Parks 

-Check out your local Parks and Recreation Department for outdoor programs.
 
-Develop transportation to local parks, organized hikes with groups of kids.  Urban, poor kids are particularly at risk.  
 
-Garden Centers can hold more planting events, giveaway seeds and tree seedlings on Earth Day to kids, post the health benefits of gardening in retail stores.
 
-Richard Louv, the author of best-selling book, Last Child In The Woods, has a new book coming out called Vitamin N.  It is due to be released April 12, 2016 and provides an extensive list of ideas to promote engagement in Nature.   If you would like to listen to a preview of what the book is about, check out the interview with Richard Louv and others on the Diane Rehm Show on NPR.
 
It is an exciting time to recapture what many of us took for granted in our youth. The ease of getting outside to play, the thrill of exploring, the uncalculated calories burned off just by playing in nature. Sometimes it is the simple things that bring the greatest benefits.
 
Please feel free to join the conversation and comment below with your thoughts, questions, ideas.

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#Nature #NatureHeals #Health #Wellness #VitaminN