talk to Orion

1 - I agree with Richard's view points that the need to get children out into nature is dire, I would like to comment though that meaningful repitition and support from individuals from infanthood to elderhood is also necessary.
I have witnessed many children and teens who have been exposed to intense fun and learning in the wilds, but I have witnessed powerful transformations when youth are inundated with a culture that combines ancient and modern ecological wisdom, and empower people of all ages to become stewards, mentors and leaders of our earth. The best model of this is something is known as cultural mentoring, or coyote mentoring in many native american cultures. There are several organizations that rely on long-term mentoring and thus cultural mentoring to ensure powerful learning experiences and the tranference of knowledge so that empathy for the nature world is ensured. (Comment this)

2 - I haven't read the article yet, but the February issue of The Sun has a lengthy interview with Louv. The beginning of it is available here for the moment: http://www.thesunmagazine.org/374_Louv.pdf (Comment this)

3 - Thank you for this article. It re-awakened not only my own childhood 'vacant lot' play but also the meaningfulness of times when my work had been to teach children 'in the field' and the deep joy and excitment I would feel as a 10 or 40 year old who had never been out on the water would see the wondrous life under the surface. Aquariums have their place but nothing will replace actually being surrounded by the life we share our planet with- feeling the wind and ocean spray, the movement of the boat on the water, the smells etc..
With children playing outside in unstructured child directed play, the play becomes a dialouge with the individual, the group and nature and the magic of experiencing the mutual unfolding. I am inspired to do more work in this field again and will now 'goggle' this topic.
Thanks, Brooks (Comment this)

4 - The President makes quotes about leave no child behind but for Native Americans and Alaska Native major budget cuts for education and these Indigenous population of America still struggling for parity in all area of life including education, health, employment, law and order. So if that is the policy for all of America why not have it fulfilled among Native Americans and Alaska Natives. With budget cutting and not upholding to his words "no child left behind," or president is two-faced. (Comment this)

5 - The topic and the article are inspiring and fit quite well with concerns I have as a grandmother of 16 grandchildren that the out-of-doors, free-play, the exploration of neighborhood "wild places" no longer exists. This lack of direct relationship with nature, or just out door activities is a great loss to our children's childhood. We use to play "kick-the-can" for hours on summer evenings. We explored the near-by creek with its tall trees and entanglement of roots, cray fish scuttling about, those that we didn't catch and eat. We made great scooters out of old boxes and singular skates - the ones impaired and no longer usuable, and raced down the hill at the end of the street. Bikes were our constant friends - when we got to that age, but we walked all over the place; we walked for miles - of a special Saturday- to go and have a soda in Santa Monica, many miles from home. That was a special recreational event. Nothing is special anymore; special experiences have been lost in the constant demand for entertainment.
I missed an opportunity to see Mr. Louv when he was in our town recently at the end of January, and I am very disappointed in myself.
It is encouraging to read his article, and I will pursue his books, but more importantly, I will share this and the principles he and others are bringing to focus, with my friends.
Leta Collord, Elko, Nevada

 (Comment this)

6 - I loved this article and I loved the book, which I read last year and reviewed for Resurgence magazine. Reconnecting children with Nature is giving them back their birthright. I feel so very grateful to Richard Louv for getting this all-important work on to the agenda. (Comment this)

7 - I've read the article by Richard Louv and all the accompanying comments. I have two books out, "Bakyard Wonders" and "Backyard Wonders 2," which target the 6-10 year olds. In my school presentations, I ask the children to find just one thing about a creature outside which is new to them, just something they have recently noticed. This could be the silver trail of a snail, the pigeon who bobs his head, the crow who leaves a nut on the highway for a car to come by and crack it for him....... "Look around."
I'd like to think my books will encourage children to want to go outside and "wonder."
My books are available on my website: www.backyardwonders.com
Let's make "nature study" fun! (Comment this)

8 - I must say that Richard asked the hard questions that I have been asking in our public schools for years.
I have tried without success to bring gardening into our elementary school. Excuses about drainage, water availability, etc. has been the norm. The same excuses are made for trees on the barren playground, but there were none for reams of expensive shade cloth structures that were installed.
I am lucky, my kids are versed in the nature around them. But I feel for all of the other kids that are not. The ones that cannot bear life in classrooms but would blossom with more outdoor time (what with recess being shortened to nothing in middle schools).
Bravo Richard. Please come to San Antonio, Texas. We need you here. (Comment this)

9 - Almost everything in this article is absolutley true. The disconnect that kids have with nature. We would all be much healthier with increased outdoor activity. Cities have gotten less green, etc. However, the developers that he speaks of in the beginning of the article are rare. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a developer anywhere else in this country that gives a damn about planning green. They will talk about it when asked to. They know the buzzwords and how to talk to the media about it, but when it comes down to pushing dirt, it's all money, folks. Don't kid yourself. (Comment this)

10 - What a hopeful article. Thank you for sharing it. (Comment this)