No Child Left Inside Day!

A few year back a fella by the name of Richard Louv wrote a book called Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder.  His booked stoked the fire behind a fascinating concept – the disconnect between today’s children and youth and nature.

I fancy myself an outdoors women. I’ve always loved going camping, hangin’ at the beach and taking road trips up to the mountains. Whenever I can spend time outside, I do. There’s always mysterious potential and a sense of freedom in nature. It makes me sad to think about how many kid have seen more of an animated world in video games than they have the beautiful surrounding we have outside our real doors.

Luckily there’s light on the horizon. I was so amped to discover that today October 13, is the second annual No Child Left Inside Day! There are a variety of organizations and motivations behind this day of celebration. You can check out more of the history @ The Children and Nature Networks website. I discovered most importantly that each year on the Tuesday of Earth Science week we can celebrate No Child Left Inside Day. (NCLI Day)

Richard is now the Chairman of The Children and Nature Network. The network’s mission is to connect every child in every community with a wide range of opportunities to experience nature directly, reconnecting children with nature’s joys and lessons, its profound physical and mental bounty. The Children and Nature Network is just one nugget in an international movement to re-establish the youth of today and tomorrow’s connection with nature!

Here’s a thought: Why not propose that your teachers take class outside for today?  It’s Earth Science Week after all! If nothing else, get outside and enjoy a bit of your real outdoor environment today.

And don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear your ideas for getting back to nature.