Kids and Nature I believe that children need nature and that nature needs kids to be in it in order for our world to survive.

For the past few days, I’ve been participating in Robert Bateman’s Get To Know your wild neighbours unconference. This has been several days of discussions around getting kids involved in nature. Tons of ideas.

Here are the two biggest ones that I’ve heard so far. In his keynote speech the other night, Robert Bateman suggested that the best thing that we can all do is simply take your children and their friends and parents into the outdoors. It’s really simple, but that’s what will make it work. Make it a weekly habit and pretty soon we will have a lot more kids going outdoors.

But what do you do when you get out there? How will you know what to tell the kids about the various species? That’s where the second idea comes in – and it’s really simple – take photos of various species and go home and learn something new about the species. Parks could help with that as well by thinking about their park design. How many times have you been walking through a forest and seen a sign that has the Latin name of the tree and no other information? That is the ultimate “so what?” moment. Those signs should have some more information about the species. They could tell us something about the plants and help people learn something deeper about them. We should all write letters to the local parks departments offering to help research one plant to help this happen. It wouldn’t take much – one fun fact on a laminated sign would be enough.

I think we need to understand that getting kids outdoors doesn’t mean going to a national park (though there are lots of great reasons to go to a national park – check out my parks pass for grade eight students for a free way to get in) – going for a walk in the local park, a walk on the boardwalk or exploring a local wood lot on a local level make a huge difference on the lives of young people.

It’s been a very busy summer, so I apologize for not writing much lately. I have been outdoors a lot and have a lot of new material to share. The first is a vingette from and fternoon this summer. I took my son to the local duck pond to feed said ducks and was pleased that I wasn’t the only one there with a child. Another parent had her three little girls there and was telling her about the ducks. Suddenly without warning she started to tell her one little girl that she was bad. What had the child done? She had put her hand into the pond. The pond had “duck germs” and the child would get sick.

I mention this story because there are many ways that we, as adults, can harm a childs love of nature. This is one. We also will tell them that bugs are gross, digging in the dirt is dirty and that its not safe in the woods with the cougars and the bears and the trees and whatnot. A friend actually shared the tore this summer that a school board was removing white pines because a child could get hit by a pine cone falling. This kind of lunacy has to stop. We can start by letting kids get wet, get dirty and enjoy the great outdoors.

It’s going to be a very busy few weeks. I’m helping plan a major camping trip and that’s going to take up a lot of time. I will try to blog a bit, and I’m jotting down ideas for some great upcoming blog posts. Here’s what’s coming up that I have so far:

– dealing with Mosquitos in a few different ways
– speaking of bugs – how to avoid making them creepy
– proper clothing for sunny days and avoiding dehydration
– using art to discover nature

And more, as I find new and exciting things. Stay tuned.

Just a quick post to share the Frogs are green art contest.  This is a program that helps kids learn about amphibians and how to protect them.  It’s for kids aged 3 – 12.

More info can be found here

Our garden is beginning to thrive.  Our little guy likes going in with his “scooper shovel” and helping to dig around in the dirt with us.  He helped plant the seeds and we’re pointing out the plants that are coming up.  So far, we’re seeing evidence of radishes, peas and carrots (and one lonely bean plant).  I think it’s really important for kids to know where their food comes from and it’s delicious to eat vegetables you grow yourself (plus, my wife wanted a garden – I’m pretty lazy when it comes to gardens and I like the idea, she took the initiative and bought the stuff).

The seasonal wisdom blog published a bigger article today of five reasons kids should garden.  I agree with them on all points and I suggest that you take a read here.