Displaying items by tag: Summer Camp

Our kids will need to find a way to reconnect with our natural environment to become participants in a global effort to restore ecological balance. Environmental awareness begins with a sense of personal connection to nature. 

How do parents bring back balance to a child’s experience? One answer has been around since the 1920’s: summer camp. Modern summer camps can guide kids back into a natural alliance with nature through the pure fun of movement. The challenges of summer camp are fun rather than stressful, but they are no less effective for developing a child’s sense of confidence and independence.

One good example of a modern “green” summer camp is Swift Nature Camp near Minong, Wisconsin. The directors have developed policies that promote camper experience perfectly attuned to the needs of the times, without sacrificing the great fun and memorable friendships that are the classic benefits of summer camp.

Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz, directors of Swift Nature Camp, begin with their policy on electronic devices. “We do not permit cellular phones, BlackBerries, pagers, radios, iPods, cassette or CD players, laser pens, TVs, Game Boys or digital cameras. They simply are not what camp is about.”

Swift Nature Camp combines traditional camp activities with ways to immerse themselves in and learn about nature is likeliest to succeed in inspiring environmental awareness in campers.

Live Long and take care of your Health.... Make good choices

Unlike other environment-related programs impacting schools, the Green Ribbon award will acknowledge high levels of achievement under three areas, rather than one:

1) environmental impact and energy efficiency;

2) healthy environment; and 3) environmental literacy.  

Congressman Sarbanes, sponsor of the No Child Left Inside Act, praised the new program. "Robust environmental education will prepare students to be 21st Century innovators – developing technologies that are crucial to the future health of the environment and the American economy," Sarbanes added. “I am thrilled that the Department of Education has brought this new focus to environmental education.” To read the Congressman’s full press release, click here. 

Don Baugh, Executive Director of the No Child Left Inside Coalition also lauded the program as a step in the right direction. “Recognizing schools for their environmental education achievements is an important part of the effort to advance the environmental literacy of our youth,” said Baugh. “Equally important is ensuring that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides support for schools to provide the high quality environmental education needed to prepare our students for college and the jobs of the future. We commend Secretary Duncan and Congressman Sarbanes for their leadership on this critical issue.”

Unlike other environment-related programs impacting schools, the Green Ribbon award will acknowledge high levels of achievement under three areas, rather than one:

1) environmental impact and energy efficiency;

2) healthy environment; and

3) environmental literacy.  

Congressman Sarbanes, sponsor of the No Child Left Inside Act, praised the new program. "Robust environmental education will prepare students to be 21st Century innovators – developing technologies that are crucial to the future health of the environment and the American economy," Sarbanes added. “I am thrilled that the Department of Education has brought this new focus to environmental education.” To read the Congressman’s full press release, click here. 

Don Baugh, Executive Director of the No Child Left Inside Coalition also lauded the program as a step in the right direction. “Recognizing schools for their environmental education achievements is an important part of the effort to advance the environmental literacy of our youth,” said Baugh. “Equally important is ensuring that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides support for schools to provide the high quality environmental education needed to prepare our students for college and the jobs of the future. We commend Secretary Duncan and Congressman Sarbanes for their leadership on this critical issue.”