[Vision2020] Fw: [Spam 5.86] BE OUTSIDE!

[Joe Campbell]

Great post, Roger!

Joe Campbell

On Jan 29, 2009, at 10:51 AM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com> wrote:

>
> -----Original message-----
>
> From: "Crapo News Release (Crapo)" newsclips at crapo.senate.gov
> Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:11:13 -0800
> To:
> Subject: [Spam 5.86] BE OUTSIDE!
>
> FOR RELEASE                                                      
> CONTACT:           Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
> Week of February 1,  
> 2008                                                   Laura  
> Thurston Goodroe (202) 224-7500
>
>                                BE OUTSIDE!
>                Guest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo
>
> "Eventually, most of us figure out that it's people, not nature, who  
> create morality, values, ethics-and even the idea that nature itself  
> is something worth preserving.  We choose to be shepherds and  
> stewards, or we don't...We will live wisely-preserving water and air  
> and everything else intrinsic to the equation we're only beginning  
> to understand-or we won't, in which case Nature will fill the vacuum  
> when we leave."
> --Seth Norman, in Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods" (2006)
>
> In "Last Child in the Woods," author Richard Louv outlines negative  
> consequences of a generation of children growing up more removed  
> from the outdoors than their parents and grandparents.  Not only  
> does this threaten our heritage of respect for and understanding of  
> our natural resources, but studies show that, in children, there a  
> strong correlation between playing outdoors and healthy minds and  
> bodies.  In fact, studies have shown that more brain learning occurs  
> when children are outside interacting with nature than when they  
> watch television.
>
> Over the past few years, a nationwide grassroots movement has arisen  
> in response to Louv's book, called the Children in Nature Network.   
> Idaho has taken a lead in promoting this, creating a multi-partner,  
> multi-stakeholder coalition called the Idaho Children in Nature  
> Network (ICNN).  I am proud to join Governor and Mrs. Otter, the  
> administrations and faculty of Boise State University and University  
> of Idaho, agencies, businesses, schools and individuals across Idaho  
> in promoting this important effort to get Idaho's children outside.   
> ICNN's "Be Outside" campaign kicks off on January 30.
>
> Growing up in southeastern Idaho, I learned about the outdoors while  
> hunting and fishing with family and friends.  As a father, I've  
> spent time with my children, doing the same activities.  Being  
> outside is critical for children.  More young people are obese and  
> suffer from diabetes and depression than ever before.  Symptoms of  
> attention deficit disorders are widespread, affecting children at  
> school and home.   Studies are reinforcing what many of us, our  
> parents and grandparents know:  getting kids outside improves  
> overall wellness, keeping children more physically fit and reducing  
> symptoms of depression and attention disorders.  The natural world  
> has many lessons to teach children, from the cycle of life and death  
> to a better understanding of our place in this world.
>
> While organized youth sports are vital to communities and provide  
> valuable exercise and socialization opportunities for children, the  
> focus of "Be Outside" is to get kids outdoors in unstructured play- 
> interacting with nature:  trees, water, rocks and, yes, even dirt!   
> ICNN includes over 100 diverse agencies, organizations and private  
> citizens coming together to "connect children with nature in Idaho,  
> from backyards to mountaintops."  The coalition includes partners  
> from education, health care, sportsmen and women, outdoor  
> recreation, conservation, local, state and federal agencies,  
> community leaders and businesses.  The coalition will work to  
> improve integration of environmental education and create public- 
> private partnerships to harness resources and foster cooperation,  
> while emphasizing Idaho's unique outdoor heritage.  The end goal:   
> to improve our children's well-being and encourage a lifelong  
> appreciation and respect for our great outdoors.  This is one of the  
> best ways!
>  to
> ensure long term environmental stewardship.
>
> Getting kids outside can be a simple as having them play in the  
> backyard, park or open space.  Working together to provide  
> opportunities beyond that only increases the positive outcomes.   
> Many Idaho children are raised to appreciate the outdoors; the goal  
> of "Be Outside" is to provide even more children with these  
> opportunities.
>
> This winter, and in the coming spring, summer and beyond, I hope you  
> find time to "Be Outside" with the children in your life.
>
> WORD COUNT: 599
>
> To link directly to this news release, please go to:  http://crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=307425&&
>
>
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> .....................................................................
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> constituent comments or information you would like forwarded to  
> Senator Crapo, please do so at the Senator's website, http://crapo.senate.gov 
> .  Comments sent to this e-mail address will not be responded to.
>
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