What are the benefits of
joining or starting a
Family Nature Club?
luxury; it is essential to our children’s health.”
— Richard Louv, co-founder of the Children
& Nature Network.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics
and the Center for Disease Control recommend 60 minutes of unstructured play for
kids per day. What does unstructured play
look like? It’s gold, old-fashioned free play
and an added bonus is if it’s in nature!
“While traditional playgrounds have their
time and place, I would encourage parents
and caregivers to ‘think outside the park’ into
the surrounding settings, particularly if there
is more natural area there,” Swaisgood says.
“Kids learn to negotiate, create, problemsolve, etc. in very different ways in the natural world when everything isn’t equidistant
and covered in rubber protection.”
Utilize Earth Day as a springboard to locate and find ways to connect your family to
nature. The health and mental benefits are
innumerable and help children (and adults)
develop a sense of place, fostering a life-long
love of the natural world.
“The idea of the Family Natu re Club is to help
break down some of the most common barriers for folks to get out into nature. It helps
families get “nature” back on the family calendar – kind of like the “gym buddy” concept.
You’re much more likely to show up for something if someone is waiting for you! There is
also safety in numbers for those who have fear
of “stranger danger” or of wildlife. Some of
the most common barriers people have shared
with me can readily be categorized into three
basic groups: fear (strangers, animals, not
“knowing”), over-scheduling (both for kids
and adults), and the pull of technology.”
- Janice Swaisgood, C&NN’s National
Coordinator, Nature Clubs for Families.
Looking for ways to get involved in the
Children & Nature Network movement?
1. Join or start a local Grassroots Campaign in
your region.
2. Add your name, organization, program,
club or campaign to the Movement
Directory.
3. Sign up for the
C&NN newsletter.
4. Share, listen, learn
and lead with
others on
C&NN Connect.
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