Displaying items by tag: nature disconnect
Today, the environment is part of every political conversation, especially global warming. Yet, despite science a large number of people do not believe that it is a relevant issue. As the Director of an overnight summer camp with a science and nature focus, I find this amazing. I have said for years that if children come to a Nature Camp they will grow up with an understanding of nature. But more importantly they will develop a reason to preserve and protect the environment, even if it is for selfish reasons of having a place to do recreational outdoor activities, although I would hope it would be for more.
Surprisingly, research now confirms my thoughts. In a recent UK study it showed that based on data from more than 24,000 people in the UK, found that more frequent visits to nature for recreation resulted in greater appreciation of the natural world were strong predictors of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). Additionally, urban residents with high neighborhood greenspace reported more environmentally friendly behaviors than those in low greenspace neighborhoods.*
As a parent, if you want to create positive long term environmental effects, one of the best way is to send your child to a Nature Summer Camp not unlike Swift Nature Camp. It may just be one of the best things you can do for your child and the environment.
*Alcock et al. 2020. Associations between pro-environmental behavior and neighborhood nature, nature visit frequency and nature appreciation: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in England.
What did you learn from Nature?
“Dad, how come it was more fun when you were a kid?” A question that many of us may have been asked by our children. Maybe it is the stories we tell the games we played or the sunshine that was freely shown on our faces? For Richard Louv the author Last Child in the Woods, when he was asked this question from his 10-year old he first was worried that his son was being a bit sarcastic and was tiered of him romanticizing his own childhood . Yet, upon further exploration, Louv realized that his son had truly felt that he had missed out on something, something that no longer exists. That is when it hit Louv realized that his own childhood had been different than the experience of present day children.
Historically, children played. Not todays play that is filled with devices, messaging & screen time or the Mom sets up a play date, no play was different. Today we call this Free Play, the ability for children to go outside, explore, make decision, get hurt, and most importantly learn about relationships by just figuring how it works. Louv believes This lack of Outdoor Free Play in todays world has “the increasing divide between the young and the natural world, as well as the environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual implications of that change.” In his books and papers, he mentions the mounds of data that implies that without a connection to nature a secure children will never develop. He believes that as parent we insure that our kids get good nutrition and required sleep, nature must be a part of raising a health child. So, as our lives become more busy and screens take up more of our time studies suggest that is the wrong direction and we need to be embracing nature. It is a necessity to being part of the human race.
Today, data is free and everywhere, so our children may know more about the destruction of rain forests, the extinction of 24 species per day or the melting polar caps. Yet, they have much less contact and awareness of their backyard natural habitat. So what this means todays kids are far less connected to “their woods” and are less connected to the people and their location in the world. No longer do children or adults make quiet time they always have a screen on. Today it is rare to step outside and explored the woods in solitude or lay in fields listening to the wind and marveled at clouds overhead. We have moved our relationship from nature to a screen and this does not give any of us a feeling of peace or tranquilly.
Love believes that when parents make a choice to get their children outside society benefit. Summer camps in particular Nature Summer Camps, are just one of the ways that parents can help make lasting memories along with connections to natural surroundings. With easy access to the great outdoors and opportunities to develop self-reliance within a nurturing community, today’s campers will remember fun-filled childhoods unplugged from urban life—and share their unique memories with future generations.
Nature not your bag? No problem you just need to know that getting your kids out side is important. So Before screen time let them go outside for 15 minutes. Let them figure out what to do…it’s ok if they get dirty. Follow those experiences up with an Nature Kids Camp like Swift Nature Camp where children can live out in nature hear the loons, see amazing sunsets or even get muddy when it rain. Let your children learn from the Natural World.
Over the past decades we have seen that today in America people spend more time indoors than ever before. So many screens compete for our attention that we are loosing a connection with nature and the outdoors. Obviously, there are many consequences of this new lifestyle. Yet one most don't think about is the disappearance of a "nature" vocabulary from the cultural conversation. Research shows our conversations reflect an actual distancing from nature. Yes, studies have been done that show we are using nature terms less and expressing ourselves less as it relates to nature. Read more about this study. How can we stop the screen time domination? Put down your screen and go outside. Make it a point to take your children outside and show them the wonder that nature has to offer. At Swift Nature Camp we do it everyday. It could be a simple sunset or a frog hopping off a lily-pad either way it's about seeing the little things and enjoying them.
