The poll, released by The Nature Conservancy, also links an inherent sense of pride with our enjoyment and protection of the outdoors.  It found that, from “Tea Party Republicans to liberal Democrats, more than four-in-five American voters say that conserving our country’s natural resources—our land, air and water—is patriotic.”  In short,

1. Conservation is patriotic, period.  Our ability to utilize and enjoy the great outdoors is a source of joy and pride to us as Americans.

2. If we fail to ensure that our children are getting outdoors on a regular basis, and thereby improving their physical and mental well-being, chances for academic success and interest in pursuing STEM careers, their future could be a bleak one.

To this end, we at NWF are working to pass the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act, which supports state, local and federal strategies to connect youth and families with the natural world, with an eye toward improving children’s health and supporting future economic growth and conservation efforts.

In addition, with encouragement from the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, of which NWF is a founding member, First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign released this video last week encouraging families to get active in the great outdoors.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now is the time for all of you go-getters to listen up and follow suit.  After all, as is the case for us and our compatriots, it is much easier to make the case for connecting kids to nature when it is a priority shared outside of Washington.  If voters understand how much is at stake in making sure all kids have safe access to the outdoors, so should Congress.

Last month, I was thrilled to learn that Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio, was officially named a U.S. Green Ribbon School for excellence in environmental literacy and sustainability.

In case you’re not familiar with USGRS, this is a huge deal. The U.S. Green Ribbon Schools program was launched by the U.S. Department of Education, EPA, and the White House’s Center for Environmental Quality, with coordination help from NWF, Campaign for Environmental Literacy, Earth Day Network and U.S. Green Building Council. In this, the program’s inaugural year, 78 schools from 29 states and the District of Columbia have been recognized, and serve as examples for aspiring green schools everywhere. And of those winners, 19 were already registered in NWF’s Eco-Schools USA program.

Until I heard the good news, I was (sadly) unaware of the greening of my former high school. After all, the Cincinnati area isn’t traditionally regarded a hotbed of environmentalism (which I’d argue is largely because hotbeds of media tend to ignore news to the contrary).

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at the U.S. Green Ribbon Schools announcement (U.S. Dept. of Ed.)

Honoring Teachers Across the Country

Prior to the launch of U.S. Green Ribbon Schools, the environmental efforts of teachers and school administrators rarely received national attention. So it was well-deserved when the Obama Administration hosted an awards ceremony  for the winning schools this past Monday.

Pine Jog Elementary is a U.S. Green Ribbon and NWF Eco-School

Many educators I spoke with loved the idea of dual recognition from USGRS and Eco-Schools USA. The NWF Eco-Schools program recognizes schools for exceptional achievement in creating ‘green’ spaces on school grounds, conserving natural resources and integrating environmental education into curricula. More than 1,200 American schools are enrolled in the program so far, including 19 of the inaugural U.S. Green Ribbon Schools.

Find out how your school can become certified through the Eco-Schools USA program, or read about how its seven step framework and pathways support all three of the Green Ribbon pillars – thus providing a stepping stone for joining this prestigious group.

Students construct a model solar-powered building (Creative Commons/NC Sun News).

On May 3, 2012, the National Association of Black School Educators (NABSE) hosted the National Education Policy Institute’s event “Saving the Soul of Public Education,” which featured a session on STEM. Panelists included astronaut Leland Melvin, who is the Associate Administrator of education at NASA, Yohance Maquelba, the Executive Director of Howard University Middle School for Science and Math, Ted Brodheim, COO of ePals, and Horace Williams, Superintendent of Cedar Hill Independent School District.

From placing high-speed internet in the hands of every student to connecting classrooms with role models from NASA, Microsoft and other big names in STEM, each panelist gave specific, compelling examples of real-life efforts to get children of color from all over the country thinking about the possibilities STEM offers. Though the title of the session, “The New Three R’s,” was in reference to Science, Technology and Engineering, there was one big “R” that steered the conversation: relevancy.

Afterward, panelists took questions from the audience, and when I asked about the ability of environmental learning to demonstrate the relevancy of STEM, all agreed that it has an important role. Melvin described NASA’s initiative to connect employees to schools as STEM ambassadors, and that they are introducing classrooms to the new Earth Now  app, which monitors changing climate data via satellite. This fits well with NWF’s Eco-Schools USA NASA-funded high school curriculum on climate change as well as providing students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that helps connect them to both STEM disciplines and the environment.

Superintendent Williams described several green initiatives that are going on in his district that are engaging students and teachers and connecting them to the community. He stated that Cedar Hill students have community gardens on school grounds, where they are partnering with a local community college and a local 4-year university. A nutritionist from the First Lady’s Let’s Move Nutrition program is in the district teaching students the health benefits of eating from the gardens. Even a nearby tilapia farm contributes as a source of natural fertilizer for the gardens.

NABSE’s leadership is well aware of the benefits of environmental education. Before the session even got underway, I had the pleasure of speaking with NABSE’s President-elect Bernard Hamilton, who spoke enthusiastically about school environmental projects in his hometown of Louisville, KY. It’s clear that diversity in STEM is something we need now when it comes to education – for our kids, for our environment, and for our economy.

Want to learn more about bringing STEM and environmental learning into the classroom? Click here to read about Eco-Schools USA’s Climate Change Connections program and the educational resources provided by NASA.

Considering just how diverse the U.S. is – and is becoming – we are talking about a LOT of children who are missing out on the benefits of environmental education–and especially the abundant applications to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in environmental science and outdoor learning.

Latinos, the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S., are also among the most underrepresented in the STEM workforce. Meanwhile, Latino children, especially ones in urban and low-income neighborhoods, largely miss out on environmental education and  outdoor experiences. This was a topic of discussion at “Overcoming Environmental Injustice: Getting Latino Kids Outdoors,” a Graduate Summit hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) on April 16th. Melissa Ocana, a CHCI Graduate Fellow, discussed her research and moderated a four-person panel on STEM, Latinos and environmental justice. Panelists included NWF’s Laura Hickey, Senior Director of Eco-Schools USA, and Jackie Ostfeld of the Sierra Club, who chairs of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids(of which NWF is a founding member).

NWF's Laura Hickey speaks at the CHCI STEM Summit

I point out the economy because STEM is an increasingly important, yet decreasingly popular route of study for American students. In other words,  demand for careers in STEM is growing while we are failing to supply enough young STEM-trained individuals to fill these jobs. Engaging more students in environmental learning would increase their ability to make connections between STEM and real-world opportunities.

We may be able to debate the ideal amount of time kids ought to be spending outdoors (which is, in my opinion, a LOT more than is typical today), but we cannot turn our backs on the devastating results of the unhealthy, indoor childhood. Getting kids from all backgrounds outdoors, learning the science of the environment, is key to their health, career prospects, and much more.

Photo Credit: Stacy Bare, Sierra Club

The Celebration of the Military Child Outdoors (or COMCO) brought about 200 military kids and family members to the park and featured various outdoor activities including guided hikes, fly fishing, freshwater invertebrate and tree identification, a live raptor exhibit, and nature games. Although COMCO was for families with one or more active duty service members, all visitors to the park that day enjoyed a fee-free day courtesy of the National Park Service.

A recurring theme for the day, echoed by guest speakers including NPS Director Jon Jarvis, was that these children are our nation’s youngest heroes who face challenges that non-military kids do not, like parents who are away for multiple deployments and the possibility of having to move every couple of years.

Opportunities to connect to nature — and to their peers — offer many benefits for military kids. Jackie Ostfeld, a National Youth Representative for the Sierra Club says that the outdoors “gives them an outlet for some of the stress and worry they feel at home” and lets kids just be kids. Spending time outdoors is also a great way for parents to de-stress and find strength in a natural setting.

A 2010 study found that children of deployed parents are much more likely to suffer from stress disorders and to have behavioral problems. Time spent in the outdoors, meanwhile, has been found to reduce stress and provide many other physical and mental health benefits. In other words, as Stacy Bare, the Sierra Club’s Mission Outdoors Military Families and Veterans Representative says, “the outdoors heals.”

Ranger Rick and NWF Volunteers at COMCO

Volunteers from NWF helped kids make nature-inspired arts and crafts and led nature games. And everybody’s favorite NWF mascot Ranger Rick himself was in attendance, offering hugs, high-fives and autographs for kids of all ages!

So it makes sense that efforts to connect kids and their families with nature would be key to improving our overall health and well-being at a time when childhood obesity and nature-deficit disorder are very real and detrimental problems. Perhaps even more significant is the nature disconnect of kids from underserved and minority communities.

Photo by Jack Dykinga, USDA.gov

More Kids in the Woods projects engage kids in activities and educational programs to “spark curiosity about nature and promote learning,” and is a cost-share program dependent upon the time, energy and resources contributed by thousands of partners. Children’s Forests, on the other hand, are focused on developed outdoor spaces within national or state forests, in urban parks or at schools, and are used to teach kids to care about the land while allowing them participation and leadership in forest management. NWF is excited to be partnering with USFS on a number of these projects.

The Forest Service grants align with President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside! initiatives. Launched in 2010, America’s Great Outdoors seeks to engage the public to work together to conserve and restore our lands and to connect to the outdoors. Let’s Move! focuses on solving the problem of childhood obesity, and includes a segment that aims to improve physical and mental health through outdoor activities.

Inspired? You can help get more kids outdoors by planning a local event to plant trees! You can also learn more about NWF’s efforts to connect kids and families to nature from our Be Out There campaign.

LA Conservation Corps, Santa Cruz Channel Islands NP (flickr | Robert Garcia)

Conservation corps are national, state and local programs that engage youth and young adults (ages 16–25) in service, training and educational activities. Within the Corps Network, there are 151 service and conservation corps currently operating throughout the U.S. Annually, corps enroll more than 30,000 young people in service (and engage approximately 289,000 community members in volunteer work).

Over a season, participants perform crucial maintenance on America’s public and tribal lands and waters. They also keep tabs on wildlife and ecosystem health in their designated area. Their work, from repairing trails to surveying streams, is incredibly important in keeping our natural heritage alive and well for future generations.

The PLSC study assessed participants from 10 member corps of the Public Lands Service Coalition against a random comparison group. It asked all groups their likelihood to engage in community and conservation efforts, and their attitudes toward public lands and environmental activism.

Results indicated that corps participation was associated with a much greater likelihood to engage in nature-centric activities, such as backpacking or hiking.

Additionally, corps service was associated with significantly increased developmental outcomes, with participants reporting an enhanced ability to work in teams, demonstrate self-responsibility, and take on leadership roles. Volunteerism was also significantly higher, as was interest in pursuing careers or furthering their education in public lands and conservation.

The rationale for asking these types of questions is straightforward. The report states:

“While PLSC members are well positioned to address key national issues (e.g., youth disengagement with nature) and circumstances, the current economic climate makes attempts to secure both federal and private funds tenuous.”

In short, showing off the incredible ability of the corps to prepare an ambitious, diverse set of young people to tackle some of our nation’s biggest obstacles—such as youth unemployment and disconnect from nature—will ensure its very future.

Learn more about the work conservation corps are doing in your home state on the Corps Network website, which is also a great resource for corps job openings around the country.  While you’re at it, check out the Student Conservation Association for more on green job opportunities!

Healthy Kids from Day One sponsor Sen. Mark Udall greets a friend on National Get Outdoors Day Denver, in Denver's City Park (flickr | SenatorMarkUdall)

But, with more than 1 in 5 preschoolers today being obese or overweight (and 1 in 3 low-income children classified as obese before their fifth birthday), Mrs. Obama cannot singlehandedly win the fight against this epidemic. According to the CDC, approximately 13 million U.S. children and adolescents are obese, a rate that has tripled since 1980.

Fortunately, there is action being taken on Capitol Hill to address this crisis, including the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act. And now for our youngest kids, there is Senator Mark Udall’s (CO) proposed Healthy Kids from Day One Act. Reflecting the pervasive nature of factors contributing to obesity – namely the eating and exercise habits that begin in preschool years – the legislation would create a three-year pilot program in five states supporting child care collaboratives for healthy eating, physical activity and reducing screen time.

Under the bill, the Department of Health and Human Services would award competitive grants to help reduce and prevent childhood obesity and to encourage parental engagement in childcare settings. The bill recognizes the importance of including outdoor play to enhance children’s mental and physical development.  One finding in the bill highlights the health benefits of outdoor time:

Age-appropriate physical activity in the outdoors, in particular, can produce immense physical, mental and emotional health benefits, including addressing childhood obesity, decreasing symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, improving motor skills, stimulating brain development, increasing creativity and quality sleep, and reducing the risk of developing myopia.

The statistics on our youngest kids’ health are daunting to say the least. The amount of time children spend outdoors is dwindling rapidly, and research has shown that kids are sedentary for about 70-83% of the time they spend in child care. Factor in more screen time than ever, and it becomes clear that anything less than a multi-systems, as-early-as-possible approach will be insufficient. A graphic from the New York Times’ coverage of a Common Sense Media report shows that 44% of 2-4 year olds already have TVs in their bedrooms. And since it’s American Heart Health Month, let’s not forget that all this inactivity is a major culprit in developing heart disease, and that the signs of it are appearing early and often in young kids.

NWF’s Be Out There campaign to connect kids and families to nature has many suggestions for engaging young children in outdoor play, which has been shown to stimulate healthy brain development, along with a slew of additional benefits. Also, to help get nature back into playtime, the Natural Play and Learning Areas Guidelines Project works with managers of schools, parks, childcare centers, and public lands to implement best practices and deal with obstacles in order to build better outdoor play spaces.

Is this the message Congress is sending to kids? (flickr | annshi)

Also on the chopping block is the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program, which includes federally funded projects that improve communities’ transportation options.

So, why should we save these programs?

According to the Alliance for Biking and Walking, bike commuting increased 57 percent between 2000 and 2009. Furthermore, the case for TE and SRTS highlights another way our nation’s health and safety are being threatened. Safe, accessible trails perform a wide range of useful functions, including:

• Connecting kids to nature, something most kids don’t do on a regular basis
  

• Keeping visitors safe on paths through sensitive areas

• Generating revenue for local economies dependent on visitors and tourism

• Preserving green spaces in urban areas
  

My Two Cents

Near my Ohio hometown, even the newest subdivisions are showing signs of neglect as the region faces a weak housing market. For those who live here, car-free living is not an option. Whether it’s going to the grocery store half a mile away, or to school across the highway, everybody is dependent on their car for a safe and convenient trip. Such is sprawl.

More disturbing is the number of kids dashing across busy streets – many lacking sidewalks or crosswalks – on their way to school. I should know, as a kid whose “commute” included, at times, scaling a fence and crossing private property to avoid the busy road. My mom was able to help sometimes, dropping me off at the bus stop, but most other kids don’t have that option. The government has spent billions making sure our cars are safer, but pedestrian deaths, including children, are increasing.

The Health Case

At a time in our history when the current generation of youngsters may not live as long as their parents did due to obesity-related diseased like Type-II Diabetes and heart disease, we cannot afford to make it even more difficult for kids to get  moving outdoors! Walking to school safely should not be a privilege reserved for those lucky enough to live in green neighborhoods. Too many children, our nation’s future innovators, job creators and parents, are in danger during what could be the only time of day they are getting outside.

Rather than strengthening our cities and keeping children safe, this bill is yet another example of the cut-all-but-the-reelection-funders attitude prevailing in the House. The bill extols dirty fossil fuels, saying that sprawl and more drilling for oil and gas is in America’s best interest. Cleaner, efficient transportation is largely ignored or cut. Why would we want a sixty-year-old approach to our 21st century transportation needs?  Not for the good of the kids, that much is clear.

Contact your Representative and tell them keep funding for Safe Routes to School.