Kids Picking TV Over Trees

[Mona Miller]

Kids Picking TV Over Trees
By Oliver Pergams, Ph.D. and Patricia Zaradic, Ph.D.

ARLINGTON, VA--A new Nature Conservancy-funded study has confirmed evidence
of a growing trend: more American families are spending time in front of the
television and away from the great outdoors.

The study, published this month in the Journal of Development Processes,
also cited serious consequences for the future of conservation.

"The greatest threat to conservation may be more subtle than bulldozers and
chainsaws," wrote authors Oliver Pergams, Ph.D. and Patricia Zaradic, Ph.D.
"Direct experience with nature is the most highly cited influence on
environmental attitude and conservation activism." Researchers added if the
youngest generation loses that experience, the future of conservation is in
jeopardy.

The researchers also found that "videophilila," as they call it, can have
disturbing implications for children's mental and physical health,
educational achievement, well-being, and their personal values and
priorities later in life.

They are following up on the results of an earlier study, published last
year, which found that per capita visits to U.S. national parks have been
declining since 1987, after having risen for the previous 50 years. Video
games, home movie rentals, Internet use, and rising fuel prices explained
almost 98 percent of the decline in people visiting national parks.

Nature Conservancy President and CEO Steve McCormick expressed concern about
the findings and reiterated the importance of connecting children with
nature at an early age.

"I didn't become a conservationist when I started working at The Nature
Conservancy. I became a conservationist growing up in California, crawling
all over the grassy knolls and in the oak forests that we called 'the
jungle,' "said McCormick.

"It was from this immersion in what seemed like a sacred place that I became
so deeply committed to conservation. I'm worried about what children will
lose by staying cooped up inside--and I'm worried about losing the next
generation of conservationists, too."

In the study, researchers pointed out that outdoor play and nature
experience have proven beneficial for cognitive functioning, reduction in
symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and an increase in
self-discipline and emotional well being at all developmental stages. But
American children, on average, are spending only 30 minutes of unstructured
time outdoors each week.

"No video game or television show can replace the majestic beauty of the
mountains, the awe inspired by the redwood forests, or the simple joy riding
your bike all afternoon," continued McCormick. "Our children need that, and
it's up to us to help introduce them to it."

Peter Kareiva, Chief Scientist for The Conservancy noted that, "This
alienation from nature is a growing trend worldwide and could be the most
serious threat to conservation for future generations."

He added, "Today, the majority of humans live in cities, and urbanization is
accelerating so rapidly that by 2050 only a small portion of the human
population will live outside urban areas. The more disconnected city
dwellers are from natural landscapes, the larger the challenge becomes for
the Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups to preserve these
environments."

The Conservancy continues to step up its efforts to engage young people in
environmental and conservation issues, such as by offering an internship
program for young people in New York City, by offering podcasts for "nature
on the go" and by allowing people to join the Great Places Network via
email.

The Conservancy has also worked with parents on a "Take Your Child To Nature
Day" and on other education activities. There are ample volunteer
opportunities at many of the 1,400 other nature preserves as well.

Researchers are recommending that long-term research be conducted to track
children's development through adulthood and assess their health,
achievement, and professional success, in addition to their environmental
awareness. --AP

[Fleur]

In my neighbourhood, we used to have a lot of woods. however, these are almost all gone because of the construction of "splendid" new homes (in the "Over the Hedge" fashion). Playgrounds for children could never replace that. I also used to play in a field with buches of wild plants, wich is now used to grow crops. Sure, we can have natural parks, but it's not like having your own bio-paradise next to your home.

As for the TV, I don't watch it. Of course, I use the Internet (else I wouldn't be writing here ) but when I feel sad lonesome, or even happy, I get the urge to go outside and do things that I like, like biking, hunting for insects, etc. I don't want my children to miss out on this beautiful part of life.

[Mona Miller]

I used to drag my kids to natural areas when they were little. They spend very little time in it now. Too busy with their heads in the internet. Me, I get the call of the wild all the time and spend as much time as possible outside.

[loretta]

Hello,

I am a newcomer to these forums and I think they are great ! I have been cruising around reading and learning.

This is a website that is very inspiring that I would like to share. I copied and pasted the home page into a text format. It all makes for a good read. I would encourage further exploration of the site.

Healthier Kids, A Healthier World - No Child Left Inside

http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?page ... deral_NCLB

Welcome to the home of the No Child Left Inside Coalition. The No Child Left Inside Coalition is a broad-based organization made up of more than 300 member groups from across the United States. Our membership, which is growing steadily, includes environmental, educational, business, public health, outdoor recreation and conservation groups. With tens of millions of members represented, the NCLI Coalition speaks for a diverse group of Americans who believe young people should receive a strong education about their natural world. Check the Coalition list for the full team of NCLI members.

The Coalition’s focus is passage of the federal No Child Left Inside Act. This legislation would authorize major new funding for states to provide high-quality, environmental instruction. Funds would support outdoor learning activities both at school and in non-formal environmental education centers, teacher training and the creation of state environmental literacy plans.

Environmental Education Gets Major Boost as House Committee Approves NCLI Act

We have taken an important step forward as the House Education and Labor Committee has approved an amended version of the No Child Left Inside Act.

As approved by the committee, the Act (HR 3036) creates new funding for training teachers in environmental education and for expanding environmental education programs. It would also provide new funding to states that create environmental literacy plans, which will ensure that all graduates are environmentally literate, and extends the National Environmental Education Act. The bill will go later this summer to a vote in the full House of Representatives.

After the committee voted, leaders of some key NCLI member organizations saluted the committee vote.

“The No Child Left Inside Act would dramatically improve the ability of schools around the country to teach young people about the environment, and we applaud the House Education and Labor Committee for moving it forward,” said William C. Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “It is critically important to find new ways to get young people outside to explore and learn about the natural world, and this legislation will help do that.”

“Children who spend more time outside before age 11 are much more likely to grow up to be environmentally committed as adults,” said Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, which is also a member of the NCLI Coalition. “The No Child Left Inside Act will stimulate environmental education nationwide and help ensure our young people have the tools necessary to face environmental challenges, such as global warming, that they will face as adults.”

Chairman Miller (D- CA) spoke in strong support of Environmental Education and the NCLI Act. Read his full statement.

The House committee vote is just one step in the legislative process, but we applaud the committee for its commitment to environmental education. And we will continue to work with our lead sponsors, Rep. John P. Sarbanes of Maryland and Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, on building support and passing strong legislation.

NCLI Coalition Joins Facebook

We now have our own Facebook group devoted to No Child Left Inside. If you are a Facebook user, please join the group and contribute to the conversation about the legislation and environmental education by visiting www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28372251592. Once you've joined the group, invite all your friends to join.

NCLI Website features new look, new tools to help get kids outside

If you haven't been to the Coalition website http://www.nclicoalition.org/ recently, take a few minutes to explore the changes that we have made to help you support the mission. You can find a link to the “Get ’em Outside” video on the homepage, as well as new badges to post on your organizations homepage that will show your support for No Child Left Inside www.cbf.org/nclidownloads. We will continue to maintain the site as a great place to get the latest information about the progress of the Act, the work of the Coalition and the national movement to get kids learning outdoors again.

Help Spread the News about the “Get ’em Outside” Video

“Get ’em Outside” is a wonderful, five-minute video celebrating the value of environmental education and is quite popular on YouTube. Please embed the video on your organization’s website or provide a link to the video, available here.

NOTE: CBF extends its thanks to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for the use of "No Child Left Inside."

The No Child Left Inside Coalition is composed of environmental, educational, and public health organizations dedicated to insuring a comprehensive education for all.

[Mona Miller]

I'm already familiar with that website and thank you for posting it. I have been helping create outdoor classrooms since my son was in 3rd grade. He is now in his second year of college.

Nature is the best teacher.

[Mona Miller]

Oh, did you happen on the Monarch Teacher Network, yet. It's incredible.

http://www.eirc.org/website/Programs-+a ... twork.html

[loretta]

Hi,

Oh yes ! I took a Monarch Teacher Network workshop two years ago and I will be volunteering for the upcoming one in my area this August. They are GREAT!

[Mona Miller]

One thing that I haven't done is take the trip to Mexico and I'd love to do that this year. I will be helping with two workshops in VA in August and hopefully meeting a friend who will come to NJ to the workshop there from New Zealand. She and some other teachers will take the training back to New Zealand.

Also, I am hoping that another teacher from Peru will get to come this year.

[loretta]

Are you speaking of the MTN workshop at Raritan Valley Community College, in North Branch NJ ?
That is the one I will be volunteering at !

[Mona Miller]

http://www.eirc.org/website/Programs-+a ... chers.html
August 18, 19, 20 – Paramus, NJ (Bergen Community College; New York City area)

This is the one that the New Zealand Teachers will attend.