1 / 16

The Nature Deficit Disorder and Non-Profit Organizations

The Nature Deficit Disorder and Non-Profit Organizations By: Kelly Behnke “I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.” ~A fourth-grader in San Diego The Project

Download Presentation

The Nature Deficit Disorder and Non-Profit Organizations

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Nature Deficit Disorder and Non-Profit Organizations By: Kelly Behnke

  2. “I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.” ~A fourth-grader in San Diego

  3. The Project • Read Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv • Talk to two professionals in the field • Deb Stork • Robin Cooper-Cornejo • Visit one outdoor education facility • Central Park Nature Center • Read two articles • Connect information to non profits today

  4. Why should you care? • “I was encouraged to find that many people now of college age—those who belong to the first generation to grow up in a largely de-natured environment—have tasted just enough nature to intuitively understand what they have missed. This yearning is a source of power.” • Louv, 2005, p. 4

  5. Benefits of Exposure to Nature • Nature can calm, focus and yet excite the senses— “The woods were my Ritalin” • Therapeutic Factors • Creates an atmosphere for social support • Open to interpretation to help children work through problems. • “Eight Intelligence”-heightened sensory, nature and creative awareness Louv, 2005

  6. Benefits of Exposure to Nature • Nurtures creativity of all people • Connects people to a larger world or being • Being in tune with nature can help prepare for larger disasters – tornadoes, fires, floods Louv, 2005

  7. Birth of Nature Deficit • Unstructured outdoor play has been outlawed in fear of lawsuits and vandalism • The message is sent to children that nature is to be seen not touched • Increase in air conditioning • Apprehensive parents • State and National mandates on school curriculum Louv, 2005

  8. Birth of Nature Deficit • Synthetic Nature • Nature seen from the automobile looking out • Nature portrayed as a scary and dangerous place in the media • Little research regarding nature deficit and the causes and effects Louv, 2005

  9. Results of Nature Deficit • Lack of nature can lead to obesity and related health risks as well as depression • Lack of interaction causes dissociation with nature, causing issues like rainforest depletion and other crises to seem less real • Increased number of children diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, other psychological disorders Louv, 2005

  10. How Non Profits Can Help • Use activities that allow for the exploration of outdoors, not structured games outside • Educate the community regarding Nature Deficit and how we can combat it • Teach the basics of nature so it is no longer “scary” • Offer experiential education, and bring in outside help when necessary Cooper-Cornejo, R. Personal Communication

  11. How Non Profits Can Help • Keep the joy of nature alive in yourself and your employees • Put leisure and recreation as a requirement in daily lives • Offer camps and programs during summer months • Train employees in outdoor education, enough so they won’t be afraid to talk about it with a child Stork, D. Personal Communication

  12. How Non Profits Can Help • Listen to the cries for help from the children… “I’m bored” • Conduct research regarding this epidemic • Give employees time off to spend time with their families outdoors • Take the fear of the outdoors away from young children • Understand it will take the larger community to change the trend-bring back neighborhoods • Build relationships with organizations that already offer quality outdoor education programs Louv, 2005

  13. Current Programs • Earth Conservation Corps • To reclaim two of the country’s most threatened resources: the environment and our disadvantaged young people • Environmental Education Grants • Money from the EPA To promote excellence and innovation in environmental education • National Network for Environmental Management Studies • Fellowship program that encourages college students to pursue professional environmental careers • National Environmental Education and Training Foundation • Nonprofit organization that fosters partnerships between the public and private sectors to fund and develop environment education and initiatives Browner, C., 1995; Clattenburg W., 2006

  14. What I learned • Maintain my enthusiasm and passion for the outdoors • There is a problem, and by being aware and educating people I am a small step in the right direction • There are jobs available for me to work in this field • Going into the field of camping is valid and important

  15. “Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives” • Thomas Berry

  16. References • Browner, C. (1995). Why Environmental Education? EPA Journal, 21, p6-9 • Clattenburg, W. (2006). Leading by Inspiration.American Forests, 111, p47-49 • Louv, R. (2005) Last Child in the Woods: The Nature Deficit Disorder. North Carolina: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill

More Related