What to expect in 2009
& the Year in Review
Happy New Year! As we begin 2009, it is appropriate to reflect upon our past achievements and to consider our challenges for the coming year. 2008 was a year in which we began to see the results of our labor since coming together as the country�s first Leave No Child Inside collaborative in June of 2006. Our initial meeting two and a half years ago brought together a group of organizations and individuals who were extremely concerned about the growing �disconnect� between children and nature, and who were passionately committed to doing something about it. However, none of us knew, at that time, exactly where the initiative would lead us.
We spent our first year educating the community about the importance of nature to healthy childhood development through lectures, workshops and one-on-one meetings. Our message was enthusiastically embraced and, by the end of 2007, it was obvious that that there was a tremendous desire in the community to reconnect children with nature. It also became apparent that there were very practical ways in which we could begin to do this. In 2008, we developed action plans to overcome the barriers that separate children from the outdoors. For example, we are working with 4C for Children on a spring conference that will encourage child care centers to look at how they design and use outdoor play spaces. We are also working with Cincinnati Public Schools on a Fifth Quarter program, in which children from 16 schools will have an opportunity to experience nature activities and environmental education this summer. Both of these projects are described in more detail in our Year End Report, along with a chronological listing of our work last year.
We believe that working together with local schools and community organizations is the roadmap to success in moving forward. These collaborative efforts lead to greater creativity, strength and energy, and they will become even more crucial in 2009 as everyone faces the challenge of limited resources. Our work is done via volunteer efforts and with staff time donated by our collaborative members and the organizations with which we work. We hope that you will consider getting involved in 2009.
Thank you for your support and we encourage you to share your comments through the Contact Us section of our website.
Sincerely,
Bill Hopple and Betsy Townsend, Co-Chairs
More News
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