Connecting
with
NATURE
Children who experience nature first-hand are more aware of their
surroundings, and often display better concentration and
understanding about the world around them
By MELISSA YOLLICK
s it blackberry or BlackBerry? In way it has worked throughout all of
today’s world, since we have fewer and human history. And what’s important
Ifewer direct experiences with nature in about this now is that in the last 30
our daily lives, chances are most children years, and escalating in the last 10 years,
today will be more familiar with the this disconnect has been occurring.”
latter, rather than the former. There is an abundance of research to
Even the Junior Oxford English Dic- support the benefits of children experi-
tionary has been modified over the years encing nature. Findings include healthy
replacing a collection of nature-focused development, better concentration and
words with ones that more accurately re- understanding about the world around
flect today’s school curriculum and gen- us. In addition to the Children & Nature
eral language. Words such as raven, Network, many other associations have
cheetah and blackberry have disappeared, popped up to promote the importance of
only to be substituted with blog, MP3 bringing children back in touch with na-
player and yes, BlackBerry. ture. In Canada, The Robert Bateman
The dictionary is just one piece of ev- Get to Know Program is one example,
idence that children are slowly losing and its website lists research to support
their connection to the outside world. Al- its cause. According to a 2006 study, chil-
though most school curricula include en- dren who spend time in natural areas
vironmental education, they do so in a while growing up will likely become ado-
very different way than in years before, lescents who appreciate and value the
by teaching children about global multiple benefits of wildlife. Another
warming and pollution instead of estab- study, circa 2004, found that increasing
lishing a true connection and love for the children’s environmental literacy and
outside world by providing first-hand ex- providing them with skills and knowl-
periences with nature. This is where a edge helps them develop into good stew-
summer camp experience in the great ards of the natural communities where
outdoors comes into play. they play and live.
“When children get to bond with na- Simply experiencing nature in a nat-
ture in their everyday lives, then they ural setting teaches children about their
will grow up to care about it,” says environment and the importance of
Cheryl Charles, president of the Chil- caring for the outside world in a way
e
nonah
dren & Nature Network, an American- that is not possible inside a classroom.
based organization that stresses the The Centre for Urban Ecology at the
C
amp W
importance of children experiencing na- Humber Arboretum in Toronto runs a
ture and the outdoors. “That’s just the year-round nature camp that focuses on
Photo:
12 Canada Camps for Parents January 2010 Edition
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