The Great Outdoors

I've been reading a lovely book called Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. The book discusses the fact that many children today are disconnected from nature. Louv goes on to say that that disconnection, that lack of contact with the natural world, has caused untold damage to an entire generation.

In this technological age we live in, where we are bombarded with everything from computers and iPods to satellite tv and video games, it is becoming rare, indeed, that families choose to spend time together in nature. I have known more than one individual who has never been on a family picnic. Never! Picnics are one of the simplest and most pleasurable outside activities----how could someone have missed out on the joy of eating a meal in the "great outdoors"? What a sad comment on our busy, and sometimes shallow, lives.

When my boys were little we spent a large amount of time outside. We lived in eastern Kentucky for nearly 15 years, so we had the privilege of experiencing the four seasons in all their glory. Each season had its own activities that afforded us the opportunity to explore the world around us. We swam in local rivers, floated leaf boats in the creek near our home, enjoyed picnics too numerous to count, built snowmen and makeshift igloos, and walked in the Autumn woods. All three of my sons have known the delight of looking for shapes in the clouds, catching fireflies, building sandcastles, skipping rocks, making snow angels and climbing trees. What wonderful memories I have of those years with my family when my sons were small and the world seemed so big to them, just waiting to be discovered and explored.

Although it is more difficult these days for my family to find time to share together outside, we try to make time. It may just be a short walk on a forest trail not far from our home or, like today, a two-hour strenuous hike through Redwood Park. We may spend an afternoon exploring one of the beaches just a few miles from our front door or a morning of picking blackberries along the river in Blue Lake or simply enjoying a BBQ in our own backyard.

In whatever way you might choose to "get outside", may I humbly suggest....just do it! Take the time to introduce, or re-introduce, your children and yourselves to the beauty of the world in which we live, and share. You will be helping to create precious memories as a gift to your children. I promise that you won't regret it. And one day, when they are grown, you will have the pleasure of hearing the words, "Hey Dad/Mom, remember that time when we............"

NATIONAL PARK WEEK IS APRIL 17-25, 2010. ENTRANCE TO ALL NATIONAL PARKS IS FREE DURING THIS TIME

http://www.nps.gov/npweek/

Visit the sites below to better understand the importance of outdoor play:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/

http://richardlouv.com/