This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). This is our September update. I have continued with the format showing the full links. This way links can be "copy and pasted" to link, if the hot link fails.
If you wish to be removed from the service please hit reply and put "REMOVE" in the subject line of your email.
From LIN we are referred to an article on a doctor writing prescriptions for time with "Mother Nature". Go to this link for the full story. http://www.insidehalton.com/community/health/article/1020672
Also from LIN we are directed to an editorial by Dr. David Suzuki concerning the benefits of nature in our back yard. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Environment/Suzuki/2011/06/08/18255611.html
LIN also has a link to HSBC press release in support of Evergreen's program to get children outdoors. For more go to: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/09/c4505.html
NRPA provides this link to a children's garden project in Fayetteville.
and this link to a press release on a Denver program to get teens geocaching.
The Children and Nature Network has set up the Natural Service Network. For more info go to: http://childrenandnature.ning.com/group/naturalservicenetwork
From NRPA a link to an article on the benefits of play, in particular outdoor play. See it at:
The Canadain Parks Council Youth Engagement Working Group has produced a report on youth initiatives and ideas for National and Provincial parks. To down load this report go to: https://files.me.com/doncdh/9tj46b
NRPA notes the formation of Outdoor Nation, a group formed in New York's Central Park, dedicated to getting youth outdoors. http://www.outdoornation.org/page/history-1
From the New Zealand Recreation Association this link to a UK article on childhood obesity and parents' tendency to overstate the amount of exercise their children are getting. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/03/obesity-children-exercise-parents
A link from LIN to a University of Alberta manual on the promotion of unstructured free play. See the full document at: http://www.auma.ca/live/digitalAssets/52/52776_Unstructured_Free_Play_Manual.pdf
For those in the Edmonton area, this link from the Edmonton and Area Land Trust will take you to a pdf. with information on sites nearby, some of which could serve as outdoor classrooms. http://ealt.ca/media/uploads/EALT_Newsletter_August_2011.pdf
Adam Bienenstock provides a link to an interview he did regarding a natural play area in greater Vancouver. This is a CBC audio file about 8 minutes long and discusses children and nature in detail. http://www.cbc.ca/onthecoast/episodes/2011/08/09/parent-projectplaygrounds/
Ted Ritzer supplies a link to the Child Nature Alliance website that provides a video file of the Natural Leaders program just getting started in B.C. Check it out at this site:
NRPA provides a link to information on a grant program called "Take Me Fishing". Studies indicate that 17% of Americans cite fishing as a child/youth as their initial experience in the outdoors, so this grant program is significant in introducing young people to the outdoors. See details at: http://www.sys-con.com/node/1957941 .
The Alberta Land Trust Alliance newsletter has information of interest to those looking for field sites in the Province. https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1352383.7516620955/rid:65b6b2f5c1268d0ff47077aa8cdb19f2
From LIN the link to a newspaper report of a study that suggests traditional playgrounds have a link to obesity in children. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/health-news/study-suggests-traditional-playgrounds-contribute-to-childhood-obesity/article2148040/
From SPRYNT Ontario, an invitation to a webinar on youth development. Fee of $15 to participate on September 28. https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/events/details.cfm?id=891
The last word goes to Richard Louv on the C&NN website. See his article and cruise around the site, there is so much information there......
