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WEEKLYPRESS.COM ·
UCREVIEW.COM · NOVEMBER 30 · 2011
Book Review: “Growing With Nature” M
By Woodrow Nelson
uch has been said about the problems of children’s
disconnection from nature, and its consequences.
New terms have been invent- ed—“nature deficit disorder” and “biophobia,” the fear or aversion of nature. Children engage in creative play less and less. The Henry J. Kai- ser Family Foundation estimates that American children spend roughly six hours per day plugged in electronically. Time outdoors has declined dramatically. “Free- range” time in nature has virtually disappeared.
Sedentary indoor lives are among the causes of the doubling in 20 years of seriously overweight Amer- ican children between the ages of 6 and 11. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that teenage obe- sity tripled in the last 20 years. Fortunately, educators and care- givers are beginning to create the spaces and provide the experi- ences that again make nurturing time in nature part of the daily lives of children where they now spend their days—in schools and childcare centers, neighborhood parks and nature centers, even arboretums and libraries and mu- seums.
Children’s learning and social skills are enhanced as they learn and play in well-designed, nature- rich, outdoor classrooms.
The successes of some of these pioneering efforts are told in the book “Growing With Nature: Sup- porting Whole-Child Learning in Outdoor Classrooms,” published by the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. The nonprofit organizations col- laborate in the Nature Explore pro- gram, and “Growing With Nature” documents the transformative effects on children who play and learn in Certified Nature Explore Classrooms. The stories in “Grow- ing With Nature” are in the voices of the educators who use these thoughtfully planned natural out-
door classrooms with children each day, and they reflect their enthusi- asm for the learning they are seeing taking place. “We tell parents if their children come home clean, they didn’t have a good day,” writes the head of an early childhood center in Los An- geles’ public school district. Creation of Nature Explore Class- rooms is often initiated for educa- tional reasons. Each Nature Explore Classroom is unique, but their configurations are based on more than a decade of research by the Di- mensions Foundation to embody a whole-child approach: Children’s
explorations in these intentionally designed, nature-rich spaces sup- port language and literacy, science, social/emotional development, mathematics, body competence, creative arts, and visual/spatial learning. Nature Explore’s companion book, “Learning With Nature Idea Book: Creating Nurturing Outdoor Spaces for Children,” outlines the design principles that make Nature Explore Classrooms effective learn- ing environments for children. “Growing With Nature” reflects the child-centered, nature-sup- ported learning taking place in all realms: Children learn to count with acorns and pine cones. They make the shapes of letters with sticks as they learn to write. They mimic the sounds and rhythms of nature on outdoor marimbas. They draw trees and birds and flowers in nature art areas. They learn to work together to build and create. Research suggests that exposure to nature can reduce the symptoms of attention disorder (ADD) and re- lated developmental challenges. A “Growing With Nature” story de- scribes how a child diagnosed with autism was able to engage in his first two-sided conversation with a classmate while engaged in play in a Nature Explore Classroom, an indicator of the accelerated devel-
opment in well-designed, nature- rich spaces of many children with autism spectrum disorders. Learning to Nurture Nature Other themes are weaved through- out the book as well: of a joy for learning, a sense of wonder, of children learning to see themselves as protectors of nature and her mi- raculous creatures. Through it all, children learn to nurture. To free a bird stuck in a fence, to gently hold a lady bug or praying mantis on a finger, to move a little frog to the water puddle, to plant and water seedling tomatoes, to mulch and protect a sapling tree. Children are learning to nurture their health and their families as well. Nature Explore Classrooms are helping children learn to grow vegetables, and they’re sometimes bringing home carrots, green beans, and tomatoes to families whose only taste of vegetables was once fast-food French fries. The “Growing With Nature” stories offer dozens of practical tips and insights for supporting children’s exploration and learning and growth in nature…invaluable ideas for parents and grandparents, as well as teachers, who want to help children grow into curious, confident, nurturing adults. “Growing With Nature: Supporting Whole-Child Learning in Outdoor Classrooms” is available through the Web site,
natureexplore.org. Woodrow Nelson is vice president of the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation.
You are invited to join us at any of these locations:
NORTHWEST PLANNING AREA Sat.
Nov. 19 Meeting Notice:
Learn about recommendations for improving education through:
You will have an opportunity to Ask Questions & Give Feedback
No RSVPs required.
For more information call: 215-400-6464 or visit:
www.philasd.org/fmp
In case of severe weather, sessions will be rescheduled if public schools are closed or students are dismissed early.
Community Thurs. Dec. 8
Roxborough HS 6498 Ridge Ave.
Martin Luther King HS 6100 Stenton Ave.
West Philadelphia HS High School of the Future
Registration 9:30 AM Meeting 10AM-12PM Registration 5:30PM Meeting 6-8PM
WEST PLANNING AREA: Registration 5:30 - Meeting 6-8PM Wed. Dec. 7 Wed. Jan. 11
SOUTH-CENTRAL PLANNING AREA: Dec. 10
Thurs. Jan. 19 Thurs. Feb. 2
Registration 9:30AM - Registration 5:30PM - Registration 5:30PM -
Registration 5:30PM -
4901 Chestnut St. 4021 Parkside Ave.
Meetings at South Philadelphia High School - 2101 S. Broad St. Sat.
Meeting at Benjamin Franklin High School - 550 N. Broad St. Thurs. Feb. 16
Meeting 6-8PM
NORTH-CENTRAL PLANNING AREA: Registration 5:30 - Meeting 6-8PM Tues. Dec. 13 Thurs. Dec. 15 Tues. Jan. 24 Thurs. Jan. 26 Tues. Feb. 7
3133 Ridge Ave.
NORTHEAST PLANNING AREA Sat.
Dec. 17 Tues. Jan. 10 Lincoln HS
3201 Ryan Ave. Northeast HS
SOUTHWEST PLANNING AREA: Registration 5:30 - Meeting 6-8PM Tues. Jan. 17 Tues. Jan. 31
1601 Cottman Ave. Bartram HS
Turner Middle School
Julia De Burgos Elementary 401 West Lehigh Ave. Strawberry Mansion HS Kensington CAPA Dobbins HS Frankford HS
Registration 9:30 AM Meeting 10AM-12PM Registration 5:30 Meeting 6-8PM
2401 S. 67th St. 5900 Baltimore Ave.
Meeting 10AM-12PM Meeting 6-8PM Meeting 6-8PM
1901 North Front St. 2150 West Lehigh Ave. 5000 Oxford Ave.
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