Natural lessons
Growing up in Nebraska during the 1970s, I enjoyed a free-range childhood. That is to say, I was free to explore the neighborhood on my own, and it wasn’t unusual for me to be outside in the summer months from morning until night.
I would ride my bike, walk to the pool and attend baseball practice nearly every afternoon, occasionally checking in at home when I was hungry or needed a breather from my activities.
It was a pretty carefree life.
But I was also learning. And the education I was receiving was difficult to duplicate in school.
During my travels around the neighborhood, I was exploring the natural world with a front-row seat. I discovered the world in a nearby creek, watching small fish and learning about habitat for other species. I walked through a wooded trail, collecting pinecones and acorns, climbing trees and watching small animals that called the trail home.
At the time, I was more interested in perfecting the subtle aspects of baseball, like learning how to lay down a squeeze bunt, than I was about nature. However, I was starting to enjoy my time alone outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle of the city around me.
Today’s children do not enjoy the freedom I had. You hardly ever see grade-school aged children alone outdoors discovering the beauty and wonders of nature. They have a much more structured day than those of us who grew up less than a generation ago.
Unfortunately, indoor media draws the attention of today’s children. And while they’re indoors, backyard adventures are ignored and go unexplored.
Outdoor fun—playing ball with the neighbors, collecting acorns and pinecones, scaling trees—helps shape a child’s view of the world, so it’s crucial for children to explore the natural world.
Children benefit when they spend time outdoors. Research suggests that children who spend time discovering nature benefit emotionally, developmentally and physically.
For instance:
*Children develop stronger powers of observation and creativity through appropriate interactions with nature.
*Playing outside can double the amount of physical activity for a child.
*According to a recent study, children who regularly have personal experiences with the outdoor world show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility.
*A study from 1977 shows that the development of imagination and a sense of wonder have been linked to children’s early experiences with nature.
We need to make sure that when children play outside, their activities are not limited to metal and plastic structures on top of a sheet of asphalt. They need to feel the grass under their feet, touch a fuzzy caterpillar, hear the crunch of leaves as they walk on a crisp fall day and enjoy the sounds and scents of nature.
Not all children have access to safe, outdoor spaces for playtime. Therefore, it is vital that we bring nature to the places children spend their time.
The Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation have developed the Nature Explore program, which includes field-tested, comprehensive resources for childcare centers, elementary schools, parks, nature centers and other public venues used for playground spaces. According to research by Dimensions, children were developing a deep understanding of nature just by having the opportunity to learn in an environment that was safe, nurturing and natural.
The Nature Explore program teaches landscape architects and city planners how to design developmentally appropriate nature-based outdoor spaces for children. The program also provides workshops for early-child educators so they can integrate outdoor learning as they teach young children. Field-tested natural components are available to provide children with age-appropriate positive experiences.
Why is it so important to teach young children about nature and to provide opportunities for them to explore the wonders of the natural world? Very simply, one day our children are going to inherit this world from us. How can we teach them to protect the Earth if we haven’t first taught them how to love it?
Families can start teaching their children to appreciate nature by going outside, taking walks together, exploring a wooded area or a creek bed. They can also make sure their children can play in outdoor classrooms.
Nature Explore Classrooms are popping up throughout the country. There are currently more than 45 Nature Explore Classrooms inspiring children all across the United States, and more are in the works. The first Nature Explore Classroom is at Arbor Day Farm’s Tree Adventure attraction in Nebraska City, Neb.
The Arbor Day Farm’s Tree Adventure includes two Nature Explore Classrooms for children and families to see and experience the natural world up close. The Tree Adventure also allows visitors to climb 50-feet-high to the Canopy Tree House and discover nature firsthand on the Exploratory Trails. Through Nov. 1, visitors to the Tree Adventure will be inspired by nature-based artwork set up along the Tree House Trail and the Exploratory Trail. Artisan Woods is an outdoor showcase of structures and art at the Tree Adventure. The showcase is the first in a series of annual outdoor exhibits planned at the Nebraska City attraction and includes work done by nine regional artists. Visitors will experience the wonders of trees and the natural world through the Artisan Woods exhibits. They will walk through a limb tunnel made of lathes from hardwood trees, see a sprout from a giant acorn, climb inside and explore a bird’s nest, discover larger-than-life chairs made from stained cedar wood and see elements of a tree hidden below the surface.
Educators who are using Nature Explore Classrooms said they are dealing with fewer behaviorial issues and their students are showing a stronger appreciation for nature. Families of these children are also spending more time together outdoors, engaged in nature-based activities.
Get outside. Explore nature. Your children will thank you for it.
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