Mar 28
It’s Not Just About Obesity
Leave No Child Inside – Greater Cincinnati was founded in order to educate the community that time spent in nature is essential to the physical, mental and emotional health of all children. Because obesity is one of the most pressing issues facing the health community today (26% of children between the ages of 2-5 are overweight or obese, and that number leaps to 33% in school age children), it's easy to lose sight of other issues related to the relatively recent disappearance of unstructured play in nature. With the near extinction of that experience, we are seeing unprecedented levels of…
Mar 28
Where Nature Meets Story – for Parents and Educators
Research shows that spending time in nature makes kids happier, healthier and smarter. Reading is probably the single most important skill for achievement in school and success in life. So, why not combine the two? The Children & Nature Network’s Where Nature Meets Story is a place for parents and educators to find fun, outdoor activities for kids with a coordinated recommended reading list for toddlers to young adults. Explore a wide range of activity themes, including “A Fort of One’s Own: Making Hide-outs” and “Of Fairies, Gnomes and Hobbits: Imagined Worlds in Nature”. Check it out and start your…
Mar 28
Spring is Here! Resources for Local Outdoor Adventure
Spring is here and that means families will be on the look-out for fun things to do in Greater Cincinnati. For activities at area parks, nature centers and other outdoor venues, including your own home, check out these on-line resources: Green Umbrella: A calendar of regional programs and events from hiking to green energy symposiums. Stay tuned for the introduction of Green Umbrella’s special outdoor activity site, MeetMeOutdoors.com, coming soon! Grow Outside Guide to Outdoor Play: Includes activities to do at home or in your neighborhood, like how to create a Child Friendly Backyard and Fun for All Seasons ideas…
Dec 13
Winter Fun in Greater Cincinnati
Looking for family fun this winter? Green Umbrella will be expanding its website to include a Meet Me Outdoors calendar of events and programs in our region. But, while that is getting underway, you can see a list of some of the activities going on in December, February and March here. We can't wait for the new Meet Me Outdoors calendar!
Dec 13
Re-thinking the traditional playground
In response to the growing body of evidence presented in Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, there is wide-spread recognition that children benefit in a variety of ways from unstructured play in a natural setting – not just physically, but also in terms of cognitive development, mental health and social development. This awareness has led to the development of Nature Playscapes, intended to allow groups of children to experience the natural world, as it has been experienced by generations before them, in a safe, public setting. In Cincinnati, we have what is…
Dec 12
Help a Child Learn and Grow Through Nature!
GIVING TREE TO SUPPORT OUTDOOR PROGRAMS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS This holiday season, participate in REI’s Giving Tree Project to help underserved children become happier, healthier and smarter by experiencing the wonder of nature. Your gift of new or gently used items will help students from the following Cincinnati Public Schools: Roberts Academy, The Academy of World Languages and Pleasant Ridge Montessori. Pick up a flier at the store to see the “wish list” of items, which includes items like binoculars for birdwatching and rain ponchos. LET LOCAL SCHOOLS DO YOUR GIFT WRAPPING You can also save time while supporting the schools…
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