Children in Nature April Update

Greetings to Children in Nature Enthusiasts!

This service is provided by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). This is our April update. I have continued with the format showing full links. This way links can be "copy and pasted" to link, if the hot link fails or is scrubbed by your security.

From ACEE a link to their website where they are announcing a Community of Practice for Environmental Educators. Go to http://abcee.org/cop/ to learn more and complete a survey.

Also from ACEE, their March newsletter with info on youth outdoor programs in the province.
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=zc67ludab&v=001bX0lc4lcuhOoLR6W6XI4Z-HuISE-nkS0QqP9DtnQNebno1mHdYuH-yRhlmXFd0MfPXfflFDrtxVt--v0Sr6n3XqcZ_JibHG59NB_rqEZNu3w_y0_0KyZzA%3D%3D

The following links are from Leisure Information Network (LIN).

This link to a PDF for England's Natural Health Service. This report recommends healthier lifestyles connected to the natural world. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/nhsmanifesto_tcm6-12022.pdf

A report on the mental health of Canada's youth from the federal government. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/dca-dea/prog-ini/school-scolaire/behaviour-comportements/publications/hcyp-sjc-eng.php

Play, not exercise, for fit kids. See article http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/play-not-exercise-for-fit-kids-20120307-1uk01.html

Edmonton community gets a Natural Playground. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Edmonton+first+natural+playground+replaces+plastic+steel+with+rocks+water+greenery/6321700/story.html

Guidelines for physical activity for the early years of life. http://lin.ca/resource-details/21663

Moving on from LIN, Bob Yates is a consultant from BC working with the International Play Association on a survey to understand how municipalities are addressing issues related to children's unstructured play. To complete the survey please click on the following link:
http://www.ipacanada.org/news.html Note this survey is time sensitive, so please do it ASAP.

From Carol Peterson at ARPA a link to a site that talks about gardening as a link to social learning, play and developing a child-nature relationship. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866712000234

Richard Louv is going on a book tour of Canada and the US. Not many sites posted for Canada yet, but take a look. While you are at this site, click on home and look around the Children & Nature Network website. http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/2012/03/27/hear-richard-louv-discuss-the-nature-principle-on-spring-book-tour/

From Doug Marvin at Provincial Parks, a suggestion we take a look at Young Canadians in a Wired World. Click http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/corporate/media_kit/upload/YCWW-III-Teachers-Perspectives_EN.pdf

I got a PDF of the Nature Wild magazine from Nature Alberta, but in my commitment to keep the "volume" of the email smaller, I can only provide you with the link to their website. http://naturealberta.ca/

From Sprynt Ontario we are directed to a report on developing youth councils. Check it out at
http://www.forumfyi.org/content/building-effective-you

From the New Zealand Recreation Association we have a link to the State of Play report just published there. http://fb.milo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/play_movement_whitepaper_NZ.pdf

Terry Krause from Provincial Parks brought to my attention a conference planned for Edmonton on June 11 to 14, on creating and sustaining a healthy environment. http://www.cpha.ca/en/conferences/conf2012.aspx

All for now,

Cliff Lacey, ARPA
Children and Nature Specialist