C&NN News Center
The C&NN news center offers access to the latest media coverage of the children and nature movement. This ever-expanding archive connects leaders and organizers, parents, youth, civic leaders, educators and health-care providers to a growing body of articles dating back to 2007. For a comprehensive C&NN database search, use the advanced search feature to scan news center articles, C&NN's annotated research bibliographies, and the C&NN blog.
subscribe to C&NN RSS feedsChildren and Nature Initiative Aims to Reduce Youth Obesity, Disease
Nurse.com
July 26, 2010
Natl. Environmental Ed. Foundation launches initiative to improve children’s health: Drs. to “prescribe” outdoor activity. [+]
A Summer School That Might Have Pleased Paul Bunyan
By Lisa W. Foderaro
New York Times
July 23, 2010
Paul Smith’s College, in NY's Adirondack Mountains, offers a summer college-credit program in traditional lumberjack skills and sports. [+]
Attack of the giant hogweed? Hogwash.
By Tralee Pearce
The Globe and Mail
July 23, 2010
Dramatic stories about run-ins with this plant’s toxic sap have parents running scared, but all that’s needed is a little common sense. [+]
JUST ADDED: Public Listening Sessions on America’s Great Outdoors Initiative in UT, MN, NY
Senior government officials are hosting listening sessions in a range of locations around the U.S. On April 16, 2010, President Obama established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda for the 21st century. The President understands that efforts for protecting and restoring lands and waters, and reconnecting people to the outdoors, must be community driven. [+]
AGO Listening Session in Philadelphia July 27 to Focus on Historic Preservation
July 20, 2010
Opportunities continue to join the conversation about America's Great Outdoors, Also in San Francisco July 23. [+] [PDF]
NEW: YOUTH Public Listening Session on America’s Great Outdoors in San Francisco July 23
July 17, 2010
People ages 16-25 are invited to join the conversation about America's Great Outdoors. Next: Phila. 7/27. [+]
Biologist, Get Outdoors Florida Chair Named “Conservation Educator of Year”
Florida Wildlife Federation
July 01, 2010
Fisheries biologist and Get Outdoors Florida leader Bob Wattendorf received the FL Wildlife Federation's "Conservation Educator of the Year". [+]
Fresh-Air Fun Still Possible With Push
By Melissa Rayworth
Associated Press
June 24, 2010
Most parents say they want their children to spend more time in nature, yet face some challenges getting them there. Some ideas to overcome them. [+]
PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS ON THE PRESIDENT’S AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE
July 09, 2010
Senior government officials are hosting listening sessions in a range of locations around the U.S. On April 16, 2010, President Obama established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation and recreation agenda for the 21st century. The President understands that efforts for protecting and restoring lands and waters, and reconnecting people to the outdoors, must be community driven. [+]
Nature Sculptor Zach Pine on Connecting People to Nature, Community and Themselves
By Mary Daniel Hobson
Arts and Healing Network
C&NN Associate Zach Pine, a longtime creator of abstract sculptures in nature, discusses his work and its capacity for healing. [+]
Turn Your Backyard into a Discovery Zone
By Kellie Gormly
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
July 06, 2010
Simple tips for creating a backyard discovery zone for exploration, nature awareness and unstructured play. [+]
A Young Person’s Connection to Nature
By Karen de Leon
Ecology Global Network
July 03, 2010
14-year-old Natural Leader Karen de Leon discovers the joys in nature and encourages other young people to do the same. [+]
Outdoors Alliance for Kids Makes Recommendations, Seeks Public Input
Outdoors Alliance for Kids
July 01, 2010
Listening Sessions hosted by U.S. Depts. of Interior, Agriculture to be held around the country this summer.
[+] [PDF]
Helping Kids to Play Outdoors
By Vicki Allan
Herald Scotland
June 29, 2010
Scotland's Children & Nature movement is gaining support from government, parents and schools. [+]
Connect with Nature the Local Way
Lincoln Journal Star
June 19, 2010
Nature Explore outdoor classrooms, now in 16 states, help connect children to natural world. [+]
$20 million federal grant initiative designed to help disadvantaged youth prepare for jobs in the outdoors
June 21, 2010
US Departments of Labor, Interior and Agriculture jointly announce new federal partnership to provide support for youth to work in the great outdoors [+]
C&NN Releases Two Major Benchmark Studies
June 01, 2010
June is the nation’s Great Outdoors month, proclaimed by the President of the United States and all 50 state governors. The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) is among those organizations celebrating and supporting Great Outdoors month. C&NN has chosen the occasion to announce the release of two major studies it commissioned with funding support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. [+]
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION ON THE PRESIDENT’S AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
June 23, 2010
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Defense host the second a series of public listening session's on conservation, recreation, and reconnecting people to the outdoors in Los Angeles. Other cities in the series include D.C., Seattle, Annapolis, and Charleston.
[+]
Can Playing in the Dirt Make You Smarter?
By Linda Buzzell
Huffington Post
June 14, 2010
New research reveals that bacteria in the soil not only lowers depression and anxiety but can also increase learning. [+]
Xbox Detox: Brother Yusuf has a Message for Urban Teens
By Mark Frankel
Sierra Club Magazine
July 01, 2010
C&NN Board Member and longtime youth leader Brother Yusuf Burgess brings urban youth to nature. [+]
NPS Kicks off “Let’s Move Outside” Junior Ranger Program in 20 Parks
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
June 17, 2010
The National Park Service kicks off "Let’s Move Outside" Junior Ranger program in 20 parks as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s "Let's Move Outdoors" campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. [+]
Natural Leaders at Outdoor Nation Youth Summit in NYC June 19-20
June 14, 2010
C&NN Natural Leaders will be at the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit and Festival June 19 & 20 in New York's Central Park. [+]
Congress for New Urbanism Links Urban Design and Public Health
By Katherine Gregor
The Austin Chronicle
June 11, 2010
C&NN's Howard Frumkin and other presenters at the 18th national conference of the Congress for the New Urbanism cited data showing an association between development patterns, transportation patterns, and public health. [+]
Montana Offers “No Child Left Inside” License Plates
By Jayme Fraser
The Missoulian
June 07, 2010
Sales from custom Montana license plates will help MT organizations dedicated to getting children into nature. [+]
Active Healthy Kids Canada Releases Report
May 17, 2010
Active Healthy Kids Canada has released its report card on physical activity for children and youth.
Illinois Governor Proclaims June “Leave No Child Inside” Month
By Steve Sarley
Northwest Herald
June 06, 2010
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has declared June to be "Leave No Child Inside" Month. [+]
The Nurture of Nature
By Kristin Laine
AMC Outdoors
June 01, 2010
How one book sparked a movement to reconnect today’s young people with the outdoors. [+]
New Paperback Edition of Last Child in the Woods Published in UK
June 01, 2010
A new paperback edition of Richard Louv's New York Times bestseller, Last Child in the Woods was recently published in the UK. [+]
Reedy Creek Explorer Zone - Natural Play Setting Part of National Trend
By Karen Sullivan
Charlotte Observer
May 23, 2010
New outdoor nature center in University City, N.C., gives kids an unusual place to play, reflects national trend for parks.
[+]
President Obama and State Governors Proclaim June Great Outdoors Month
By American Recreation Coalition
June 01, 2010
President Barack Obama and nearly all of America’s governors have proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month. [+]
Richard Louv: Let them climb trees
By Jon Henley
The Guardian
June 05, 2010
C&NN's Richard Louv addresses Nature Deficit Disorder while in the UK. [+]
Outdoors Alliance for Kids Established, Brings Together Major Partners to Connect Children with Outdoors
Sierra Club
June 01, 2010
A broad coalition, including C&NN, has formed to ally with Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign to eradicate childhood obesity and encourage unstructured play in nature. [+]
We Must Help Our Children Connect with Nature
By Cassandra Jardine
London Daily Telegraph
June 03, 2010
Richard Louv, Sir David Attenborough and others respond to the recent survey by Natural England that revealed that 24 % of children visit a local patch of green weekly, whereas 53 % of their parents did. [+]
First Lady Michelle Obama Unveils “Let’s Move Outside” Initiative.
American Recreation Coalition
June 01, 2010
June is a special time to celebrate America’s Great Outdoors. Presidential recognition of Great Outdoors Week was begun in 1997 by then-President Clinton and has continued ever since. [+]
Healthy Choices Act Introduced in Congress
House.gov
May 06, 2010
The Healthy Choices Act, a bipartisan effort to tackle the country's obesity crisis, was recently introduced in Congress. The proposal includes provisions for improving access to and opportunity for physical activity for adults and children, and providing more opportunities for them to participate in outdoor physical activities. [+]
Children and Nature Movement Gets Boost in Malaysia
By Leong Siok Hui
(Malaysia) Star
May 29, 2010
A report on the efforts of several Malaysian families to reconnect their children with nature has appeared in the Star, one of Malaysia's largest English-language newspapers. The article acknowledges the international impact of Last Child in the Woods, and cites a 2004 study that found that 19 percent of Malaysian teenagers were overweight. [+]
Michigan Initiative Praised as Model for Other Communities
By Margaret DeRitter
Kalamazoo Gazette
May 28, 2010
A local initiative in Michigan to get children out in nature is going so well that it could be a model for communities across the country. That was the assessment of the Children & Nature Network's Cheryl Charles on a recent visit to Kalamazoo, where representatives of the Kalamazoo Nature Center are working closely with community leaders to develop a strategic action plan to improve the connections of people with nature and to positively affect the health of children. [+]
New Study Reveals Environmental Attitudes of Youth
Convention on Biological Diversity
May 18, 2010
A new survey of young people from around the world has found that a much greater percentage of them would rather watch TV or play computer games than save the environment. On a positive note, the results also show that children still enjoy spending time outdoors, with almost a third saying it's their favorite pastime. [+]
Approaches for Finding More Outdoor Time
By Melissa Rayworth
Fayetteville Observer
May 17, 2010
Even parents who appreciate the importance of outdoor time for their children find it difficult to prioritize such time. Reporter Melissa Rayworth of the Associated Press offers a number of solutions from overcoming the most common obstacles parents face in finding sufficient outdoor time for their kids. [+]
Research Supports Children and Nature Movement in Australia
By Thea O'Connor
The Australian
May 15, 2010
A growing body of research is showing that Australian children, like their counterparts in the U.S., are suffering as a result of their disconnect from nature. One study of Melbourne children, for example, found that classroom attention scores improve as the amount of schoolyard vegetation increases. [+]
Berlin Children Build Their Own Three-Story Playground
By Alex Gilliam
Public Workshop
February 22, 2010
There's a neighborhood in Berlin where children age six through sixteen build their own playground structures, including towers that rise three stories high. Even more impressive: parents technically aren’t allowed in the building area, and staff members only check on the kids intermittently. [+]
E Magazine Advises Parents to Get Kids Outside
By Brita Belli
E/The Environmental Magazine
May 10, 2010
Getting children outside ranks high on the list of green parenting tips put forth in a recent commentary by Brita Belli, the editor of E magazine. "Whether hiking and camping as a family, or simply running around the backyard, regular outdoor activity can have huge positive health benefits," writes Belli. [+]
Australians Look to Outdoor Education as Solution
By Ainslie MacGibbon
Sydney Morning Herald
May 10, 2010
Australians relish their reputation as lovers of the great outdoors, but many of them now, particularly Australian children, are spending more and more time indoors. To remedy the situation, some schools are implementing outdoor education programs. [+]
Groups Seek N.C. Children’s Bill of Rights
By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall
WRAL.com
May 07, 2010
A coalition of North Carolina groups are hoping state lawmakers will follow the lead of other states and pass a Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. The campaign is an initiative of the North Carolina Children and Nature Coalition and Environmental Educators of North Carolina. [+]
Louv Discusses Nature Deficit on Australian Radio
ABC Radio National
April 17, 2010
Australia's Radio National network recently broadcast an extensive interview with Richard Louv on its popular All in the Mind program. In the interview, Louv discusses the causes of nature-deficit disorder and the benefits of connecting kids with nature, among other topics. [+]
New York Times: Is Technology Changing Kids’ Friendships?
By Hilary Stout
New York Times
April 30, 2010
A new study by the Pew Research Center finds that a growing number of American teenagers prefer to text their friends rather than talk to them either by phone or in person. The question on researchers’ minds is whether all that texting makes children more or less connected to and supportive of their friends. [+]
Outdoor Preschool Takes Root on Vashon Island
By Susan Gilmore
Seattle Times
April 20, 2010
The weather on Vashon Island, located in the chilly waters near Seattle, is anything but mild. Yet in the two years that Cedarsong Nature Preschool has been in operation children have only once gone indoors for class. [+]
Green Exercise Quickly Boosts Mental Health
BBC News
May 01, 2010
There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling with nature boosts well-being, especially among young people. A team of UK researchers found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem if the activities took place in a park, garden, or on a nature trail. [+]
Conference to Look at Building Healthy Communities
Congress for the New Urbanism
April 28, 2010
The Congress for the New Urbanism will examine the health benefits of building more walkable, livable neighborhoods at its upcoming national conference in Atlanta starting May 19. The meeting is being organized with the assistance of the Centers for Disease Control. [+]
USA Today: Natural Playgrounds a National Trend
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald
USA Today
April 22, 2010
The playground of the future is beginning to take shape, and it looks a lot like the backyard of the past. As USA Today reports, Seattle, Phoenix, Chicago, and New York are just a few of the cities across the country adding natural play spaces to existing urban parks. [+]
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As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published two new resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels:
