children and nature awareness month challenge
The Children and Nature Network , chairman Richard Louv, has declared the month of April to be Children and Nature Awareness Month. If you know me or have followed my blog for a while you know that nature is very important to my little ladies and me, not just being in nature, but KNOWING and RESPECTING nature. Here is Araina and Newton enjoying the beautiful weather today.
Recently, I read an article in the NY Times called Playtime is Over, by David Elkind, he said something that floored me (in reference to Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods)- “our young people are more aware of threats to the global environment than they are of the natural world in their own backyards.” This statement has really stuck with me. We teach our children to make the correct environmental choices and be aware of our environmental footprint, but are we REALLY teaching them WHY they should be doing this? Are we doing more than simply saying, “Save a tree, don’t use that paper towel.” Are we teaching them RESPECT for the plants and creatures as well as telling them the consequences to poor environmental choices? Getting them outside AND going outside with them is the best way to learn respect for the beautiful Earth we live on. Turn off the TV and video games this month, climb a tree, look under a rock, play in the mud, plant some seeds, eat a dandelion leaf, etc……explore YOUR backyard!
So I have a challenge for you that I know will be quite easy for many of you in the blog world; I know how many of the bloggers I visit respect and care that our children get outdoors on a daily basis. Lets show the world how we do it; in honor of Children and Nature Awareness Month, go outside everyday, rain or shine; then take a picture each day, for the rest of April, of your children outdoors and post it. Just a single picture will do; words aren’t even necessary. Lets spread the word and go outdoors!
Leave your blog link below if you’re with me!
”That’s all.”
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left a comment on a more recent post. just wanted to let you know that we are playing too!
Please add us
We love outside everyday. and love your blog..
I love this and I need some motivation to get outdoors! We are in Alaska and we still have snow on the ground! This is a fantastic idea….thanks for doing it!! We will try to post every single day!
Deb
We’re in! What a wonderful idea:) http://notesonanaria.blogspot.com/2010/04/children-and-nature-awareness-month.html
Please add us to the Outdoor Challenge!!!!! Hopefully its not too late!
We are so happy to join in. Great idea!
What a fun challenge! We are in!
always up for a share/challenge
The picture posting will be the biggest challenge here, but for a good cause – I’m in.
Love this…I am in!
Great idea, I’m in
The Adventure Kerrs are in!
I will try to post as much as we can…however when you spend a lot of time outdoors you realize the internet world, isn’t as important.
Love, love, love to be participating with other like minded parents and their kids.
A few years back my friends and I created a facebook group called, “Nature Mamas with their adventure kids club”. We would meet weekly and go on a small or long hike with our kids, or go on longer weekend camping trips. I want to try to get that going again this summer!
Came over from the Rhythm of the Home blog. TOTALLY IN. Great idea!
Came over from MamaSnail – This is a great challenge to get kids away from the TV and video games and really get out to experience nature.
We are with you and the little ladies!! We have been spending so much time outside lately and it really makes me happy!
http://gooseandbinky.blogspot.com
oh yeah. It’s funny, i have trouble keeping my kids IN doors, although we do tend to do city things: garden, rake, dig, bike, run, play, jump, etc.
I didn’t think we’d be able to be in, but even on the day of Willow’s surgery we got outside and played, so we’re DEFINITELY in!!!
Hi….can we play? We are outside every single day. Look forward to joining you.
We are definitely in. I picked up a copy of Louv’s book a couple of weeks back and am just getting started reading it, so this is perfect timing!
Love this idea! We’re staring a few days behind, but we’re in! Thank you for putting this together. I’m looking forward to reading your future posts
~ Michelle and family – in Minneapolis
Secret Water is particiapting too, is this where we sign up?
So often it’s hubby (SAHD) taking our daughter outside during the day when I’m at work, that I’m the one that neglects getting out and about. We have been talking alot about the importance of getting out, and I think this is the kick in the butt I’ve needed. Thank you for reminding me the importance of not only getting outside everyday, but to also spend the time teaching and learning how to get to know and appreciate everything there is out there!
We’re In too!
Or should I say Out?
~angela @ [http://dandeliongirls.blogspot.com/]
We are participating! there is hardly a day we don’t spend some time outside. i can not post everyday and i have no idea how to ‘link-up’ to anything (sheepish) but we are there with you!
Followed a link over here from Montessori Beginnings, and I’m glad I did. This challenge will be a major kick in the butt for me. I know how important outdoor play is, and yet it seems to get shuffled to the bottom of the priority list so often, and many days my 2 year old goes to bed with his only outdoor time being the walk to and from the car during the mad dash of the day.
I won’t post a photo everyday, but I will try to get out everyday, and maybe do a weekly update of how we’re doing. Every day in remaining in April, you say? Here goes…
I know the posting everyday is quite a challenge, for me too. Love that you will be trying to get out everyday, that’s what is important.
Little Acorn Learning is participating too! xoxo
sorry i missed ya eileen! now added.
good excuse to get outdoors!!
I love your little get outdoors tree button, I had to put it on my blog. http://weewaldorf.blogspot.com
We’re in! What a fun challenge!
This is a great idea! Our April weather is certainly cooperating this year in Minnesota! I’ll start it off with some pictures of a trip to our neighborhood pond last week…
Here is a little about the changing of the season in Australia from Summer to Autumn. Also, a bit about Indigenous weather. Thanks for all your lovely posts.
Here is mine: http://obaitori.typepad.com/obaitori/2010/04/autumn.html.html Edit
Here is a little about the changing of the season in Australia from Summer to Autumn. Also, a bit about Indigenous weather. Thanks for all your lovely posts.
We’re in. Here’s our first post: http://heartfelthomemaking.blogspot.com/2010/04/fort-williams-park-cape-elizabeth-maine.html
Yes! We’re definitely IN!
xo Saminda.
fernsbythefireside.blogspot.com
What a great post! We’d love to join in…. we’ve been outside planting our garden(s) all month!
we are in, http://ciderandfaun.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-gatherer-and-other-things.html
you’ve been added andrea. Thanks for helping spread the word.
We’re in. First time stopping by your blog and loving it!
I wouldn’t really call this a challenge for us, sicne we already spend so much time outdoors but I am up for the thrill of capturing it on a daily basis!
http://www.ourbrokenroad.blogspot.com
http://www.bonafidemama.com/2010/04/nature-challenge-day-1.html
For the Love of Violets is our first day:
http://homeschooljournal-bergblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/for-love-of-violets-family-nature-club.html
but we are going to try to get out each day and make an entry.
-Phyllis
What a wonderful thing to do. We’re in but will post our weeks worth of photos on the weekend! What a great response you’ve had so far.
I’m in
My camera’s broke, but I’ll have the kid’s draw a picture for me to scan each day. Thank you for this and your new button is on my sidebar!
We are in! I love this challenge, we have just started geocaching and have had some great experiences while out and about. We’ve come across 4 snakes, a beaver, numerous bugs, and a raccoon that scared us!
I’m with you guys .. last one outside close the door xx
I like this even I can do it because I’m much more of a home body but my kids love to be out and it’s important to really experience nature, farms, mud, wool and where food comes from. One of my favorite books is “I Love Dirt” by Jennifer Ward.
On another note I heard on my local radio station this morning that on facebook there is a game called farmville or something. The dj’s couldn’t believe it when they heard about this game. People spend money to go online to create virtual farms and buy all the virtual animals with real money. Can you imagine having a farm on the computer? What they kept asking was now people can actually go buy a cow but still don’t know how a farm animal works, where the milk comes from and etc. I thought that’s a sad shame a virtual farm situation now replaces getting in the car going for a drive to see how wool is made, where food comes from, or going to see some animals to pet and feed. How about a walk that’s easy on the wallet? I feel sorry for those who play this game and miss out on all this outdoor fun. Sorry for this very long comment but I just see how it all ties in together and we are soo lucky that we can make the choices we want to make for our families.
Luisa
I’m right with you! This is such an important challenge. You’re right, it’s best if we, ourselves get outside with our children.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I’m in!
Knowing nature is a passion of mine.
I’m particularly passionate about urban nature – so am looking forward to using this challenge to show other city dwellers that nature can even be found in a busy city.
Here is my post: http://superheroesandprincesses.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-spy-in-neighborhood.html
One thing I have especially loved about your site Lisa is the connection you show with your children and nature. You guys are soo connected and with so much love. Very inspiring for me.
I love Jason Mraz and Sesame St, thanks for that clip too. I remember seeing him as an opening act for Beth Orton in a small venue in Sydney once, he gives so much happiness doesn’t he?
And being outside is the best way to get your vitamin D. Best thing ever for keeping illness at bay
The Snail Family is in!!!!!
I hadn’t visited your blog yet when Nicole (Frontier Dreams) directed us this way. Excellent post, Lisa, and one that resonates with many of us. It is funny, the “why” only occurred to me just the other day and I tried to come up with a simple explanation for my 5 year old. It is clear we will need to regularly repeat this (as with most things), but I realized we hadn’t been doing much “why” previously.
nicola
What a GREAT idea! I am in! My hubby and I have been talking alot lately about getting more into nature. We do spend a good amount of time outside playing and having fun, but I can’t really say that we really teach the kids that much about nature (not that just enjoying time outside is bad, because it’s very good too). I just now thought of a perfect teaching moment I had with my kids today that I failed… we were at the lake having a picnic and they asked me what a certain type of bird was, I didn’t know and said so. My niece looked at me and said “I thought mommies knew everything”, I told her that we can learn new things everyday just like children by doing research and finding out, but then I didn’t do it. I should have come home and looked up that bird and thought them about it, I forgot all about it until just now. Anyway, I love this idea and will be participating!