Conservation Education Conference

1
Connecting Children and Nature
Conservation Education Conference April 10,
2007 Jim Bedwell Director of Recreation
Heritage Resources
2
Children NatureRecreation Health
Healthier US

• President Bush establishes Healthier US
• Signs Executive Order 13266 June 2002
• Federal agencies directed to use resources to
• increase personal fitness
• US is facing an epidemic of chronic disease
• 16 of all children are overweight or obese
• Increase awareness that outdoor recreation is a
• fun and healthy form of physical activity
• Advocate recreation and volunteerism as part of
• a healthy, active lifestyle

3
Children NatureRecreation Health

• Health Prevention
• Benefits of Outdoor Recreation
• Physical Activity Stronger, Faster, Smarter
• Restorative Benefits of Nature
• Mental Acuity
• Emotional and Mental Health
• Healing Power of Nature

4
Children NatureRecreation Health

• National News
• Physical Activity
• Stronger, Faster, Smarter
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Rebalance childrens time for
• more free play
• National Efforts
• Get Outside America
• DOI agencies
• Conservation Fund
• NFF, NFWF, NPF and NEETF
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

5
Children NatureRecreation Health
Need a Fresh Approach
We need a fresh approach to good health. We
need to make it fun and achievable. We need to
show both children and adults the enjoyable and
doable steps they can take towards better
health. Tommy Thompson Former Secretary of
Health and Human Services
6
Children NatureRecreation Health
Richard Louv, author

• Last Child in the Woods
• Physical, Intimate contact with Nature
• Built Environment
• Fear Factor
• Technology
• Children and Nature Network
• National catalog and dialogue
• www.cnaturenet.org
• Promoting More Kids in the Woods CCS
• Congressional testimony
• Web and print media
• May 22 USDA Patio event

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Children NatureRecreation Health
Conservation Literacy
Nature-based physical activity Fun, health
benefits, life-long pursuit Experiential
Learning Makes science real and
relevant Together they create Interest,
connection, commitment, caring for the land, and
future conservation leaders
8
MORE KIDS in the WOODS

• U.S. Forest Service
• Origins - Former Chief Bosworth
• Recreation Restoration are our future
• Connect with urban and diverse audiences
• Gloria Manning
• NFS Directors retreat
• Charters inter-deputy team for integration
• Secures funding for team project (50k)
• First team meeting July 26, 2006
• More Kids is teams response to Chiefs
  Challenge
• Recreation assumes leadership of team Nov 06
• 450,000 of NFRW funds added to 50,000

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MORE KIDS in the WOODS
Inter-deputy team members
NFS Jacqueline Emanuel Floyd Thompson Kristen
Nelson Rick Swanson Rhonda Stewart Rick
Henderson Forest Recreation staff National
Forests of FL Mark Warren Legislative
Affairs Jim Upchurch Elaine Chalmers
SPF Drew Burnett Sandy Frost Susan Mockenhaupt
Research Anne Hoover
Business Ops Karen Alexander Dani Price
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MORE KIDS in the WOODS

• Goes PublicOctober 2006
• Recreation Roundtable Luncheon Chief Bosworth
  launches More Kids as agency-wide challenge cost
  share
• USA TODAY- Carries More Kids in the Woods in an
  article about the Back to Nature Movement

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MORE KIDS in the WOODS
Forest Service-wide CCS Goals

• Stimulate new non-federal partnerships with
  partners where the focus is connecting children
  to nature
• Highlight existing Forest Service activities
  where the focus is connecting children to nature

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MORE KIDS in the WOODS
Forest Service-wide CCS

• 500,000 to be awarded
• More than 200 proposals submitted
• Inter-deputy team currently reviewing proposals
• Will rank top 40 by April 24th
• Directors team will make recommendation to
  leadership May 7th
• Presentation to Chief and Staff Presentation
• Announcement of awardees by Chief Kimbell and
  Richard Louv on May 22nd

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MORE KIDS in the WOODS
Forest Service-wide CCS A Catalyst

• A bold national effort that highlights the
  agencys contribution to the issue that can
  attract new large-scale partnerships
• Media
• NFF and others
• Recreation Forums
• Creates momentum to advance a cohesive strategy
  to connect children to nature

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MORE KIDS in the WOODS
Childrens Academic Success, Health and Well-Being
Research
Conservation Education
Interpretation
Recreation, Outdoor Ethics, Wildlife and other
programs
Connection Memories Stewardship
Science Forestry
Interpretive Experiences
Data Methods
15
Connecting Children and Nature
Reducing that deficit healing the broken bond
between our young and nature is in our self
interest, not only because aesthetics or justice
demands it, but also because our mental, physical
and spiritual health depends upon it. The health
of the earth is at stake as well. Richard
Louv Last Child in the Woods Saving Our Children
from Nature deficit Disorder