Sep 20
New!!! Infographics Available
As more and more research emerges confirming the value of spending time outdoors, it’s become a challenge to share the multitude of benefits in the sound-bites that we 21st century humans expect. Newly published infographics do just that! The Children & Nature Network put together a team of nationally recognized experts to vet research on the topic for its new Green Schoolyards for Healthy Communities report and condensed that information in to a series of four infographics on Mental Health, Physical Activity, Value of Play and Academic Performance. These great communication pieces are also available for download in poster size. Wouldn’t…
Apr 15
Vitamin N!
Richard Louv's new book, Vitamin N, sheds even more light on just how important nature is for our health and well-being, and that of our communities. NPR's Diane Rehm recently interviewed Louv, along with Jonathan Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service, and Robert Zarr, MD. Together, they make a compelling case for spending more time in nature, and discuss what is being done nationally to create nearby nature in our increasingly urban world. Click on the link to tune in - it is well worth the time! But be forewarned - it may inspire you to pick up a copy of Vitamin…
Apr 14
Nature-Based Education Growing
Green schoolyards provide a sensory-rich environment for learning which is shown to help students focus their attention and increase their engagement, while providing a myriad of physical and mental health benefits. Two recent news stories highlight nature-based learning: The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on a Forest Kindergarten in Yellow Springs, Ohio and the CBS Morning Show featured author Richard Louv at the Chattahoochee Charter School, a nature-based school where test scores are exceeding both the national and regional averages. Leave No Child Inside is working with local schools to encourage outdoor learning and we look forward to announcing progress on that front in the coming months! In…
Jan 28
2014 Progress Report
We are proud to begin the year with a report on our progress in 2014. We invite you to read the full report to learn about our work, including: - Pathways to Health: Leave No Child Inside’s first pilot project, launched in partnership with the Evanston Community Council and Safe Routes to School. The project was inspired by the words of New Urbanist Gil Penalosa, who said “Children are an indicator species. If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for all people”. This innovative project is designed to spark neighborhood-wide physical activity…
May 2
Childhood Without Trees?
TREES!!! Filmmaker wants your stories “I remember having a low-branched mulberry tree in our backyard as a child. We would throw sheets over its branches and it was instantly transformed into base camp for the neighborhood “archaeology dig” where we found shards of china that we were certain must have fallen off the wagons as the pioneers travelled west in their wagon trains. By night, it became the site of many a ghost story as we huddled close with our flashlights, wrapped in blankets to stave off the chill. Imaginations ran wild and friendships grew strong in our ‘tree tent’.…
Mar 10
Change a Child’s Life
If you are reading this, odds are that you care deeply about children. You probably have fond memories of playing outdoors as a child – exploring the neighborhood with friends, building forts and letting your imagination take you to exotic worlds. You probably would like to see your children and grandchildren have the experiences that brought joy and wonder to your own childhood. And, you’ve probably noticed that this way of life has all but disappeared from the lives of today’s children because of safety concerns, reduced access to nearby play spaces, overly structured lives and the appeal of electronic…
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