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Research & Studies | Media & Culture
New York Times – January 20, 2010
New Study Finds Kids Plugged-In 7.5 Hours a Day
By Tamar Lewin
The average young American now spends practically every waking minute—except for the time in school—using a smart phone, computer, television, or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The study also found a link between heavy media use and several negatives, including behavior problems and lower grades.
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Commentary | National | Media & Culture
Vancouver Sun – September 22, 2009
Ken Burns National Parks Documentary Series Premieres on PBS
By Alex Strachan
The National Park’s: America’s Best Idea, a six-night documentary series by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns, airs on PBS starting September 27. Burns hopes the series will encourage more city dwellers and rural residents alike to visit their national parks and to revisit that part of them that resides in nature.
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National | Access
Washington Post – August 18, 2009
Washington Post: The Good Side of “Glamping”
By Lori Aratani
As the Washington Post reports, retailers and park officials across the country are scrambling to make camping easier and more comfortable for those unaccustomed to roughing it. But rather than criticizing such efforts, the Children & Nature Network’s Cheryl Charles says they should be encouraged. “I would not be critical of ‘glamping,’ ” she tells the paper. “There’s not one right way to reconnect with nature.”
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National | Health
ScienceDaily – August 29, 2009
Study: Active Preschoolers Healthier Later in Life
Being active at age five helps kids stay lean as they age even if they don't remain as active later in childhood, a new University of Iowa study shows. The implication, according to the study’s lead author, is that “even five-year-olds should be encouraged to be as active as possible because it pays off as they grow older.” [+]
National | Education | Health
Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design – July 28, 2009
Fact Sheet Summarizes Benefits of Gardening for Children
Third- to fifth-grade students who participated in a one-year gardening program showed a significant increase in self-understanding and the ability to work in groups compared to nonparticipating students. That’s one of the many findings summarized in a new fact sheet on the benefits of gardening for children published by the Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design at the University of Colorado at Denver. [+]
International | Media & Culture
Times of London – July 14, 2009
Louv Introduces British Readers to Children and Nature Movement
By Richard Louv
In a lengthy article for the Times of London, Richard Louv introduces readers of the paper, as well as those of its affiliates across the globe, to the children and nature movement and summarizes some of the recent efforts within the UK and elsewhere to raise awareness of nature-deficit disorder. These include the just-released survey of 3,000 British parents by the National Trust, last year’s Report to Natural England on Childhood and Nature, and a BBC Wildlife Magazine survey that found many children in the UK cannot identify common species like bluebells and frogs. Louv’s article coincides with the British publication of his Last Child in the Woods this month.
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International
Daily Telegraph – June 21, 2009
Publication of Book Raises Awareness of Nature Deficit in UK
By Julia Llewelyn Smith
The UK publication of Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods is helping to raise awareness of nature-deficit disorder there. Scheduled to appear on shelves July 1, the book has already prompted at least one journalist to predict that it will increase the pressure that parents feel to give their children more access to nature.
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Allies
Drive – January 01, 2008
Subaru Promotes Children and Nature Movement
By Richard Louv
Car manufacturer Subaru has devoted the cover of its quarterly magazine Drive to promoting the children and nature movement. Inside the magazine there is an excerpt from Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods that provides a succinct introduction to the ideas behind the movement. The magazine also features information on the National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour program and the efforts of the No Child Left Inside Coalition.
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SECTIONS | Research & Studies | CATEGORY 2
C&NN – December 05, 2011
Together in Nature: Pathways to a Stronger, Closer Family
By C&NN
Free, downloadable tool kit from C&NN highlights research and opportunities for secure parent-child bonding through nature-based experiences.
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Education
Green Teacher – March 26, 2011
Green Teacher Launches Webinar Series
By Tim Grant
Non-profit magazine offers webinar series for educators and others on various ways to reconnect children with nature.
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State | Education | Health
The Washingtonian – February 25, 2011
Nature Camps Offer Many Opportunities for Kids to Connect with the Outdoors
By Zac Farber
Getting off the Computer Screen and into the Great Outdoors Keeps Kids Active and Happy
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Allies | Campaign/Initiative
Backpacker Magazine – August 11, 2010
Last Child on the Couch: How 10 Grassroots Innovators are Helping Kids Get Active Outdoors
By Jason Stevenson
Leaders from C&NN and other groups provide inspiration and map for getting kids into nature
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Commentary | Health
ABCNews.com – April 13, 2010
Ideas for Getting Kids Outdoors
By Melissa Rayworth
Even parents who love the outdoors say it can be difficult to interest their children in nature. The Associated Press's Melissa Rayworth has compiled a list of suggestions for getting kids outdoors.
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Natural Leader Tamara Poles and Virginia Museum of Natural History are Putting People Back in Touch with Nature
Nearly 13,000 people have taken part in 247 programs of the Community Nature Initiative. [+]
TRACK Trails Offer Nationwide Weapon Against Nature-Deficit Disorder
New interpretive trail system for kids comes to U.S. national parks. [+]
Applications Open for 2012 TogetherGreen Fellowships and Innovation Grants
Audubon & Toyota seek to fund promising conservation leaders and community-based projects. [+]
“No Child Left Ashore” Movement Makes Waves
SF Bay Area's Pegasus Project gets students out on the water, where transformations occur. [+]
Play England Calls for Support to Help Kids Play Outside
Research shows that 21% of children play outdoors daily, compared to 71% during their parents'… [+]
A Healing Place for Children
C&NN Founding Chair Richard Louv consulting on new children's treatment center in MN, which is… [+]
National Kids to Parks Day Set for May 19
Nationwide day of outdoor play organized by National Park Trust. Classroom contest ends March 1. [+]
Chevy Chase, MD, Preschool Encourages Learning Outside the Box
Preschoolers spend at least half a day outside in woods, in all seasons. [+]
Study: Preschoolers Need to Get a Move On
Most pre-school children spend hours doing sedentary activities instead of playing outside, research has shown. [+]
Help Connect Children & Nature.
C&NN Web BadgesC&NN Synthesis of Research and Studies
[+] Introduction
[+] Research & Studies Vol. 1
[+] Research & Studies Vol. 2
[+] Research & Studies Vol. 3
[+] Research & Studies Vol. 4
Nature Clubs for Families Tool Kit
Download the Tool Kit [>]
The Tool Kit includes a Quick Start Guide with simple instructions on how to start a local Nature Club for Families.
Newsletter Archive
JAN 31 – News and Updates
JAN 12 – News and Updates
DEC 22 – News and Updates
DEC 6 – Ecology of Hope
NOV 22 – Natural Families News
NOV 10 – News and Updates
NOV 1 – 2011 Report Outs
OCT 6 – Natural Teachers News
SEPT 8 – APOCALYPSE NO
[+] view full archive
C&NN Publications
As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published these resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels:
2010 C&NN Report
[>] Download PDF [2MB]
Children and Nature 2009: A Report on the Movement to Reconnect Children to the Natural World
[>] Download PDF [1.1MB]
C&NN Community Action Guide: Building the Children & Nature Movement from the Ground Up
[>] Download PDF [1.4MB]
