Seattle Children in Nature Collaborative

“I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.”

-Quote from a fourth-grader in Richard Louv’s, Last Child in the Woods

 

Over the past two decades, children are spending less and less time outdoors, and this affects the mental and physical health of today’s kids. Decreased time outdoors for children coincides with a doubling of the childhood obesity rate, as well as increases in attention deficit disorders, depression, and other health issues. Research shows that time outside in nature helps children grow lean, healthy bodies, and increases attention spans and school performance. Also, it has been shown that the leading factor in long-term stewardship ethics in adults is regular, unstructured time spent in nature as children.

We believe that nature is local and that our children here in the Seattle area need us. Together, we can build a place where grass-stains, muddy boots, and climbing trees are parts of everyday life for kids. And where they feel alive and connected in these spaces: to themselves, to one another and to nature.

If you want to stay in the loop on future events and progress of the Seattle Children in Nature Collaborative, you may sign up above in the “free e-news” box. Make sure when prompted to check the box for the “Seattle Children in Nature Collaborative” newsletter.

For more information, please contact:

Amanda Thornton at betweenlayers (at) gmail.com,
John Chilkotowsky at johnc (at) wildernessawareness.org,
or Jourdan Imani Keith at jourdan (at) urbanwildernessproject.org

Wilderness Awareness School has agreed to host this webpage until SCINC obtains it’s own website.

Links:
Children and Nature Network
NatureRocks
NWF Be Outside
Austin CINC
San Diego CINC