December Children in Nature Update

This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). This is our December update.

I have continued with the changed the format of the links due to complaints that computer security systems are stripping away the web links from the word "here" and leaving readers with no way to find the referenced articles. This way they can copy and paste to link, if they need to.

From the Lifestyle Information Network (LIN) an article of interest to Parks Managers on Apprentice Gardeners. One problem identified in the field is finding staff who are interested and well trained in maintaining parks. This article highlights a training program. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/23/BAKR1G05O7.DTL

Bill Reynolds offered me a link to an Australian Website that emphasizesand active lifestyle through the identification and development of Healthy Spaces & Places. Useful for planners and those health practitioners seeking to establish areas where children (and adults) can play outdoors. http://www.healthyplaces.org.au/site/

The National Recreation and Parks (NRPA) Weekly News identifies a major program to fight childhood obesity funded by health care insurers Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The program itself is not as significant as the identification of a major potential funding source to aid in the children in nature movement. http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/26/760599/charity-targets-obesity-in-kids.html

Also from NRPA an article about an outdoor classroom in a US school, designed to enhance science and art curriculum for elementary grades. A small success for children in nature.

http://grayslake.patch.com/articles/new-classroom-to-spark-outdoor-learning

The Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE) ran Inspiring Action on Education workshops in Calgary and Edmonton to summarize ideas on environmental education. Thanks to Cal Kullman for sending me a link to the results of these two workshops, found at http://www.abcee.org/eerc/pd/workshop-series/oct-workshop-resources/

Cal also sent me a copy of an essay by Steve van Matre, a very well know spokesman for the need for environmental education. For security reasons I do not send pdf attachments with this newsletter so I have found a link to the website Mr. van Matre uses to outline his ideas for Earth Education, which carries his message in slightly different words.

http://www.eartheducation.org/who-letter.asp

Via the NRPA news we have information on the Macatawa Greenway outdoor discovery centre. Their home page is filled with information to link families with nature. http://www.outdoordiscoverycenter.org/odcofwu/site/default.asp

Adam Bienenstock provided some insight into the development of Natural Playspaces in his presentation to ARPA in October. Visit the LIN site to download his presentation.

http://lin.ca/resource-details/17856

From LIN a link to Stats Canada Health Data. Anyone interested in investigating the current health conditions of the Canadian population will be interested in this website. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-623-x/82-623-x2010002-eng.htm

From Don Polinski of Strathcona County, reference to an 11 page article in the Globe and Mail on a school in Britain that has embraced outdoor learning and converted their school grounds to a natural landscape.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/where-nature-meets-the-classroom/article1797092/?cmpid=rss1

From Ted Ritzer at Alberta Parks, information on the Robert Bateman "Get to Know" Program. Thank you Ted for this great information....

2011 has been declared by the United Nations as International Year of the Forest—a timely celebration of the importance of forests, worldwide.

The Get to Know Contest encourages youth to get outdoors, get creative, and “get to know” their wild neighbours through art, writing, photography, and video. Since 2000, the Contest has connected hundreds of thousands of young people with nature.... We are working to empower the next generation of passionate environmental stewards.

The theme of the 2011 Contest will be “Wild Neighbours of the Forest”. The Get to Know Program is also pleased to announce the launch of an all-new video category for the 2011 Contest, in celebration of IYOF and in partnership with the United Nations, the U.S. Forest Service, and Parks Canada. The video category will invite youth to submit videos about how they plan to celebrate their local forest. The Contest will launch at zoos, aquariums, museums, and nature centers across Canada on April 22, 2011 (Earth Day).

Visit http://www.gettoknow.ca/ca/ for more information.

Have an urban naturalization project in mind for up to $10,000? Such spaces are great areas to get children into the outdoors. ACEE wants to make us aware of a Walmart - Evergreen Grant to undertake this work. http://www.evergreen.ca/en/funding/grants/walmart.sn

Juan Martinez, Children in Nature Natural Leaders Coordinator sent this note regarding an American initiative to make people aware of the value of spending time outdoors:

In the month of April 2011, the Children & Nature Network will launch a nationwide campaign to highlight you and your community’s efforts to connect all people with nature and make our mark as a movement on the rise. We have the opportunity to celebrate our joy for nature like no other generation before. This is not a call to action, it is a call for fun! Think of it as a party invitation, and the party location is all the green space around us. Community gardening, local hikes, river clean-ups, bird watching, fishing, biking, beach days—however you get outside, we want to hear about it!

From LIN we have an idea from Phoenix that will get kids out in open spaces that many Canadian municipalities could copy...

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department has announced a YouTube contest looking for amateur videographers and photographers to highlight the city’s desert preserves, parks and recreational facilities. Entries can either be moving video or a video presentation of still images. Participants will post their completed videos on YouTube.com and submit a link for consideration.

From LIN, a referral to an article in the Vancouver Sun making a case for natural play.

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/company/vancouver sun/Taking+back+playground/3972505/story.html

From C&NN we have an article that appeared in the Windsor Star espousing the benefits of outdoor play in a Canadian context.

http://www.windsorstar.com/Jarvis+Outside+learning+enriches/3898151/story.html

That is all for now. May you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Cliff Lacey

Alberta Recreation and Parks Association

Children in Nature Specialist

November Children in Nature Update

This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). This is our November update. I have changed the format of the links, as I have had complaints that computer security systems are stripping away the web links from the word "here" and leaving readers with no way to find the referenced articles. This way they can copy and paste to link, if they need to.

For those wishing to be removed from the mailing list, just click reply and request removal. The majority of you are getting bcc's, but those few on the cc list are willing to have their names "exposed" to facilitate contact from others.

Albi Sole of the Outdoor Council of Canada has some important events coming up immediately. Please go to http://outdoorcouncil.ca/ for information on their AGM to be held October 30 in Calgary. Also note information on outdoor leadership training events this weekend in Calgary at http://outdoorcouncil.ca/Leadership_Level_1

From the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) a link to a Montana article on Ready 2 Read Goes Wild, a program that encourages learning about the outdoors. Click http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100930/LIFESTYLE05/9300373 to link.

The Edmonton & Area Land Trust has established a gallery of nature pictures....birds, mammals, reptiles and even people in the outdoors! This might not get kids outdoors, but it provides some material to help in the promotion of outdoor events. Visit the gallery at http://www.ealt.ca/art-gallery/.

The National Parks Conservation Association in the US has developed apps for Apple devices to help identify the flora and fauna of US parks. These apps are free and include bird calls and details to help identify "just what that noise is....". For more information go to USA Today at http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2010/10/new-free-national-park-field-guide-phone-apps/126529/1

From NRPA, a link to the Colorado based Keystone Science School. This is a school that focuses on teaching children and youth a science curriculum in an outdoor setting. Go to http://www.keystonescienceschool.org/ for more info. on the school and its programs.

The Children & Nature Network has developed an information package to be delivered specifically to pediatricians (as a result of Richard Louv speaking to that group in early October). See the info here http://www.childrenandnature.org/pediatricians

From SRYNT Ontario and link to a site to help youth workers relate to and lead children and young people. The Seach Institute lists ides clearly and simply at this site. http://www.search-institute.org/content/asset-building-ideas-for-youth-workers

Arlene McWilliam - Protz provided information on Alberta Agriculture's new "Earthbox Kids" program and person to talk to for more information. Funding and equipment are provided! Call Shirzad Chunara at phone: 780.422-2550 or email: shirzad.chunara@gov.ab.ca There is scant information available on their website so I have provided a PDF.

From SPRYNT Ontario news of an Ontario government plan to connect with youth. Click here for info http://www.youthconnect.ca/htdocs/english/getinvolved/ypf.asp

October Children in Nature Update

This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). Go to http://www.arpaonline.ca/ for information on the organization. This is our October update.

For those wishing to be removed from the mailing list, just click reply and request removal. The majority of you are getting bcc's, but those few on the cc list are willing to have their names "exposed" to facilitate contact from others.

The ARPA annual conference is October 21 to 23 at the Fairmont in Jasper. Click here for a link to program information if you are interested in attending.

From Bob Yates, a planning consultant in B.C., reference to results of a survey published in the Telegraph, UK paper on children becoming alienated towards nature. Click here for a link to this timely article.

From the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) of the US there is an article on a Miami after school activity program aimed at getting kids active. Click here for a link.

Also from the NRPA is a story about urban camping in Brooklyn NY. Certainly some Canadian jurisdictions could copy this initiative. Click here for the link.

From the Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE) we have an invitation to participate in sessions designed to gather input to affect changes in Alberta's school curriculum. ACEE provides many input opportunities at their website. Click here to link.

More from the NRPA. This is a story of a California hiking club that partnered with a youth organization to take kids outdoors. Click here for details.

From Marion Price and SPRYNT Ontario we have news of a Provincial Consortium on Youth in Recreation, November 17 and 18. Click here for a link to the site promoting this seminar.

ARPA provides information on the SOGO Active Challenge in their monthly newsletter. This initiative is targeted at 13 to 18 year olds, challenging them to create an activity to get them and their friends active. Opportunities could include outdoor activity. Register by Oct 29. Details here.

NRPA directs us to a study on the benefits of walking and cycling. John Pucher provides insight into the benefits of this urban planning issue. Click here for a link to the PDF.

For residents of Ontario, the Lifestyle Information Network (LIN) is promoting the SPARK advocacy grants. These grants are to promote activity programs and healthy eating for children. Click here for a link.

A great article by Richard Louv on the Children and Nature website on "Hummingbird Parents; Seven actions parents can take to reduce risk and still get kids outdoors." Click here for the article.

On the same site are excepts of an October 2 presentation by Richard Louv to the American Academy of Pediatrics listing the benefits of getting children outdoors and calling upon the Academy to take action in encouraging this. Click here for that link.

The Alberta Land Trust acquires property for environmental/ecological reasons. They have recently started a newsletter. Information concerning this work is available on a website which you may access by clicking here.

Through the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration (IFPRA), we have a link to the Kaboom "Help Save Play" program where this US national non-profit is helping to build 118 playgrounds in 2010. Click here for information and inspiration.

From LIN we have a link to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that considers the factors contributing to obesity throughout the world. Click here for a link to information from the report.

For our final point in this issue, an invitation to a conference, Healthy Children Healthy Spaces, in Ottawa, November 14 to 16, that should prove to be very informative. I deeply regret I will miss this due to an earlier commitment! The Child Nature Alliance has been involved (with others) in organizing this event with international speakers. Click here for a link.

Cliff Lacey

Alberta Recreation and Parks Association

Children in Nature Specialist

September Children in Nature Update

This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). This is our September update.

For those wishing to be removed from the mailing list, just click reply and request removal. The majority of you are getting bcc's, but those few on the cc list are willing to have their names "exposed" to facilitate contact from others.

For those of you that might be interested, Krista Robertson's recently completed master's thesis, entitled 'Natures Play", is available at a file sharing site. This study has numerous local examples and several excellent references. I am not entirely sure this link will work for you, but you can copy and paste into your browser. http://www.filefactory.com/file/b310996/n/K._Robertson_MDP_May_2010.pdf

If this link fails, please contact Krista at kj_robertson@hotmail.com for a copy of the 150 page study.

From the NRPA newsletter we have a link to a New York Times article that looks at the recuperative effect spending time outdoors can have on busy adults. (I am sure we can extrapolate these findings to include children!) In this case four neuroscientists with an interest in mental focus and brain function spend time on the river in Glen Canyon, Utah. Good references and links. Click here for the article.

A great article on geocaching from the Winnipeg Free Press proclaims the benefits of this sport, a technology that takes you outdoors. Sounds great for getting kids involved.... Click here for info.

"In Your Face" is the title of a youth worker training session offered by BCRPA. This info comes to us from SPRYNT. For a link through the BCRPA website, click here.

From LIN (The Lifestyle Information Network) comes this link to over 2500 activities for children and youth. Once at the site you are asked a series of questions that narrows the focus of the suggested activities. Click here to access this site.

NRPA refers us to an article in DC.Streets that looks at the reverse correlation between obesity and "active commuting". Click here for a synopsis of the study and, once there, a link to the original published work (available for a fee).

The "Promoting SUCCESS Act" is before the US Congress. It proposes to make funding available to pilot test the success of summer camps in getting kids outdoors to help them change destructive health habits and retain learning from school. This is an interesting concept. Whether it has the legs to actually become legislation, only time will tell. Click here to get to the Library of Congress. Then select "Back to Bill Summary" and once there click on the "Text of Legislation" box view the proposed wording.

The Alberta Council for Environmental Education has courses available for those interested in teaching environmental education. Go to their website for details or sign up for their monthly newsletter at http://www.abcee.org/

There is a site in Britain that features a biosphere called Eden. Schools use it as a venue to take children to a variety of ecosystems on one field trip. The website is set up to provide info for teachers considering a trip to the facility. A very interesting amenity and video to go with it. Click here for the link.

LIN once again furnished a great link to a CBC item on "Poor and fat" children. This article is by Brett Taylor , associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine, researcher, lecturer and emergency pediatrician at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. To read this article, click here.

The Children & Nature Network has begun to distribute a Natural Families Network newsletter. If you are interested you can sign up through their website. Click here for a link to the website.

The final entry goes to our Canadian website, the Child Nature Alliance. There is a map for you to post activities on sites on, there is a list of interesting articles and you can sign up for a newsletter. Click here to get to the site.

Cliff Lacey

Children in Nature Update

This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). This is our summer update.

The Children in Nature Network in the US has amazing information and reports to assist anyone with an interest in getting kids outdoors. Click here to link.

The Alberta Council on Environmental Education has a workshop called "Optimizing your Environmental Education Programs" planned for November in Edmonton. Click here for a link.

The NRPA newsletter provides a link to a Kalamazoo story on getting kids outdoors. Click here for the link.

The ARPA developed a "Benefits Catalogue". Within the document are summaries of studies that outline the benefits of recreation and leisure activities. For a link to the summary of benefits for children's activities (some are outdoor), click here.

Business Week offers us an article relating adolescent health to neighbourhood planning. The original research for this article does not appear to be available yet. Click here for the magazine article.

Recreation Management Magazine has an article on producing podcasts to promote park visits. While it is not specifically directed at children, this is a technology children might find desirable, thus boosting interest in the outdoors. Click here for the info.

From NRPA, a link to an article on a program sponsored by health insurance companies to fight childhood obesity. This reveals an interesting partner in the fight against childhood obesity. Click here for the article.

From the Lifestyle Information Network (LIN) we have this link to the Ikea Play Report. Click here for insights into children's play.

The Children in Nature Network provides a tool kit for Natural Leaders, a program aimed getting teens outdoors by recruiting other youth and young adults to act as leaders. Click here for a direct link to a page offering the tool kit downs load.

Resources are available at the OAK site (Outdoor Alliance for Kids) if you click here for the link.

This Newsweek link takes us to a US study on parents' perceptions of obesity among their own children. Click here for the article.

Here is a thought provoking idea, adding wireless internet service to our parks. Will it attract a younger element to the outdoors? Click here for an article that touches upon opposing points of view.

From Maryland State Parks, and encouraging story about Youth at Risk assigned to labour in parks for their misdeeds. Click here for this story.

Update on Children in Nature

It has been a while since my last mail out, but there is some interesting work being done that I want to share with you.

From the Winnipeg Free press an article on the study of a soil borne microbe that increases serotonin levels in the brain and appears to aid in learning. Great news for children's gardening programs! Click here for the article. Click here for a (slow loading) video discussion of the research.

Researches in Washington State conducted an experiment in a blank walled office and another equipped with flat screen tv's showing park settings. Which do you think was most restful? Click here for details of this interesting study.

For those of you that might not have had a chance to explore the "Discover the Forest" website I sent out in the last email, click here for a link to an article that describes the it and leads you to some specific sections of the site.

For info on "Why Teens are Not Involved in Out-of-school Time Programs: The Youth Perspective" click here for the results of a study. While this is not a study focussing on getting kids outdoors, it gives insight into what we have to do to attract this age group of children and young adults.

Ted Ritzer from Alberta Parks sends info on a US youth program that assists with work in National, State and other park systems called the Student Conservation Association. For a video showing their work, click here. For the history of the program, click here.

From the NRPA newsletter we have this article on the increasing popularity of natural playgrounds. Click here for the article.

In praise of physical activity...this article cited by the NRPA newsletter speaks of student's needs to be active and the academic benefits this brings. Click here for the article.

Recreation Management magazine provides us with an extensive article on the move to natural play spaces. This article has ample pictures to illustrate points made in the writing. Click here for details.

The Lifestyle information Network provides us with an Active Healthy Kids Canada report card with some warnings about the health of the youngest, most vulnerable elements of our population. Click here to see a summary of the report.

From the Children & Nature Network comes the summary report of the Grassroots Survey done in 2009. This report looks at the general condition of Children in Nature opportunities in the US (and to a very small extent, Canada). Click here for the results.

More from Ted Ritzer. This link the the Catching the Spirit Youth Society in Vancouver provides some ideas for outdoor program opportunities for kids. Click here for the link.

A study from the University of Essex in GB. suggests "A walk a day keeps the doctor at bay". The article suggests the relationship of nature to the human psyche is a key factor in determining our mood. Read the article by clicking here.

There is a Children in Nature gathering being planned in central Alberta. Alberta Recreation and Parks is NOT involved in staging this event, but I am sharing it with you as information. Click here to go to the Lak'ech Ecolodge website and look under upcoming events for more info.

Recess coaches help kids learn outdoor games and teach them how to resolve conflict on the school grounds. Click here for a link to this article from NRPA.

Sprynt Ontario provides this link for Youth Friendly Communities. Click here to look at the report on this PDF.

The Alberta Council for Environmental Education offers a link to look at the results of a survey they conducted to determine the attitudes Alberta's youth have concerning the environment. Click here to link with their website and select the polling information for review.

Please note that I will be sending you a survey tomorrow on Children in Nature. I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete it.

Thanks, on behalf of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.

Cliff Lacey

Pan-Canadian Survey to Determine a "Communities Perspective" on Children/Youth and their Connection with Nature

The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) has undertaken work on an online survey instrument for the above noted initiative, which has been made possible through a grant received from Mountain Equipment Co-op. The survey has been developed so as to seek input on strategic matters pertaining to children and youth and their perceived lack of engagement/connection with nature (the out-of-doors).

It is our intention that the Canadian Recreation and Parks Association (CPRA) partners and their members across the country will complete this survey, creating a broader understanding of the existing circumstances, programs and perceived gaps, in outdoor recreation and nature education opportunities for children and youth.

Please find below a link to an online survey designed to seek input on strategic matters pertaining to children and youth and their perceived lack of engagement/connection with nature.

Survey Link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/239694/l8e6t
The survey should take between 20-30 minutes to fully complete. The survey does not have to be completed in one session as you can click in the top right corner of the survey to save your progress (an email will be sent to you with a link to continue). We will be making a draw for five $100 gift certificates from Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) from the individuals who complete the survey.

A link to the survey is listed below. This survey will only be available online until the end of day on March 12th, 2010.

The findings from this survey will be presented at a session at the Parks and Recreation Educational Forum and National Exchange in Niagara Falls in April. The findings will also be posted on the Lifestyle Information Network (www.lin.ca) following this event.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this important survey!

Children in Nature

Hello All!
Welcome to the New Year!

Marion Price of the Provincial Consortium on Youth in Recreation in Ontario sent a note about National Youth Week May 1 to 7. See http://youthinrecreation.org/index.htm for their homepage and links to the Week info. Also from Marion is this link to a paper on the process for including youth in decision making http://www.servicelearning.org/filemanager/download/7/YVGuide.pdf

Also from Marion is this article on programming for rural youth http://www.childtrends.org/Files/Child_Trends-2008_05_05_RB_RuralOST.pdf
From the NRPA weekly newsletter comes a link to a site that focuses on play. There is some fantastic information you can access here http://kaboom.org/help_save_play/playful_city_usa/best_practices_play.

From an earlier issue of the NRPA Newsletter comes this link to the Web MD that outlines the psychological and physical health benefits of living near green spaces http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20091014/parks-green-spaces-protect-your-health.

From the Lifestyle Information Network (LIN) a note on the Newfoundland and Labrador plan to get kids more active. See this link for the press release http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=314995&sc=83.

For a website with 6 different papers on the revitalization of the ParticipAction program. One in particular focuses on unfit youth. Again, thanks to LIN see http://www.ijbnpa.org/series/participaction.

The final article from LIN references what the experts had to say in Nova Scotia about Technology and its affect on Recreation http://lin.ca/resource-details/15643.
From Gareth Thomson with the Alberta Council for Environmental Education we have a link for the Global, Environmental and Outdoor Education Council conference planned for May 6 - 8 in Canmore http://www.geoec.org/.

From Christiane Guilbeault at Lak'ech EcoLodge and Ranch in Westerose, AB (780-586-6288) www.lakechecolodge.ca we have been informed that Joseph Cornell has been booked for June 12/13 to come to this Lodge. See his website on http://www.sharingnature.com/. Alberta presenters/educators will also have the opportunity on June 11 to do mini-workshops which will not only showcase the talent and skills of Alberta nature educators but also provide an opportunity to network with other educators and parents who have the "wildness" of their children at heart.