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TOPIC: The Nature of Nature-Deficit Disorder
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/87719311e32fcdab?hl=en
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== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 2 2008 6:06 pm
From: "Edward Frank"


From the: TPL Updates for January 2008 from The Trust for Public Land

The Nature of Nature-Deficit Disorder

Photo: Robert Burroughs
A Conversation with Richard Louv

By William Poole

Three years ago, Richard Louv was a San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper columnist and book author who wrote often about social trends. Today he is chief spokesman for a rapidly growing movement that seeks to reconnect children with nature. Published in 2005, Louv's Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder details the many ways in which modern children are disconnected from the natural world. Now in its 14th printing, the book makes a powerful case for the importance of experiencing nature in childhood.... 
Posted 12/2007

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 2 2008 8:32 pm
From: "Beluzo Gary A."


Ed,

Coincidentally, I am reading the book right now...maybe we could have
a discussion at some point if others have read (read) it.

Gary

== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 2 2008 8:48 pm
From: "Edward Frank"


Gary,

This is one of the books on my list to read, but unfortunately I have not had the chance yet. Summaries of this and similar articles is one of the reasons why I added a Children's Activities section to the website. The other being my own perception of the detachment of most children from the outdoor wilds in general, compared to my roaming in the neighborhood woods when I was younger. The section has not gotten much beyond a series of links yet, but I would love to see some discussion on the topic in general and perhaps some thoughtful submissions for inclusion in that section of the website. Who out there has read the book? How about a show of hands?

Ed

== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 2 2008 9:43 pm
From: James Parton


Ed, ENTS,

I could go on and on about this. At 43 years old things have changed
so much since my childhood days. Even in winter I rarely stayed
indoors for long. I fished, I hiked & was in the woods often, I hunted
when I got older. I had many " Natural Science " hobbies. Rock
collecting, Astronomy, I also studied insects alot and even mounted
them. I had two microscopes & the school allowed me to use their
resources & I often ordered specimens from Carolina Biological Supply
co. I was never a master of one, but I had fun and learned in the
process. I have nothing against TV and computers but kids should get
out. Parents should encourage it. Teachers should encourage it. My dad
was an avid outdoorsman and I owe much to him for setting that example
for me. I can understand the " Crime factor " to a point but should it
keep our kids prisoner in their own homes? There is no easy answer for
that one but I feel a child sitting in front of a TV playing a Sony
Playstation all the time is missing so much. A childs peers & teachers
should set an example from a very young age. The preservation and
appreciation of our natural world depends on it. Cook Forst or the
Great Smokies are not some faraway place that is seen only on TV. It
is real and accessible. I would have been awed as a child for my dad
to have taken me to see the Boogerman Pine, if he would have knew of
it. I would have been in awe. Like WoW, this is the closest we have to
a redwood. I bet Will has taken his children to see it as well as many
other trees & forests. Like the hikes dad took me on. Victor Fields,
The Pink Beds, etc. These memories last a lifetime and in turn you
have a chance to make memories with your own kids. Don't pass it up.

I have not read the book but I am sure I would like it.

James Parton.

== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jan 2 2008 10:08 pm
From: dbhguru@comcast.net


Ed,

I think your idea on a children's section is phenomenal. It will allow teachers to contribute material and attempt to reach a very, very important group of people.

Bob

==============================================================================
TOPIC: The Nature of Nature-Deficit Disorder
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/87719311e32fcdab?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Jan 3 2008 10:14 am
From: pabigtrees




ENTS

I just finished reading the book about two weeks ago. Ed, I would be
glad to mail it to you, if you could give me your address again.

I enjoyed reading the book, I am not sure if you can force a child
into the woods. My sons have been forced on occasion by me, but
return in less than thirty minutes. I often take them to parks to run
free, but they get tired of it easily. I don't know what the
difference is between my upbringing and theirs. I grew up in rural
Pennsylvania with no brothers, so I headed out into the woods with my
dog almost daily. I do notice that my boys don't seem to have a
strong imagination, my daughter does. She will talk to dolls and
pretend, where the boys never have. Maybe that is the difference. My
children don't have the access to large tracts of woods like I did
either, just small dislocated pieces in between homes. Like the book
states, my wife doesn't like them too far out of sight, as someone may
"steal" them (unlikely)

Scott

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Jan 3 2008 6:14 pm
From: "Edward Frank"


Scott,
I am sure you are tight about not being able to force children into liking
the outdoors. Things are different these days with the options of the
computer and video games. The thing I am thinking about, and we can discuss
this later is how can we incorporate the use of computers and electronic
technology into the outdoor experience. The better they can be integrated,
perhaps the better the outdoor experience. It needs to be an adventure,
rather than just another trip.

a) One option might be through digital photography - photography of the
wilds and then the design and posting to a website displaying their
photography and comments on their trips. MySpace (in spite of the bad
publicity) is a good free option as are many other free places for websites.

b) Another approach that might be promising is the Geocaching option. Here
are some links for newbies: If you received a GPS device as a holiday gift
and are wondering how to begin geocaching, let us help you. What is
Geocaching? http://www.geocaching.com/faq  Finding your First Geocache
http://www.geocaching.com/about/finding.aspx  The History of Geocaching
http://www.geocaching.com/about/history.aspx  Learning More - The
Groundspeak Forums Register for free use of the Groundspeak Forums to search,
ask questions and be a participant in the online geocaching community.
http://www.geocaching.com/forums/register.aspx  Dale even has placed a
geocache neat a handicap access trail at cook forest. These are like a
treasure hunt, with prizes in the caches. In Pa there are collectable coins
for finding so many caches.

I have other ideas, for discussion later.

Ed Frank
8718 Route 322
Reynoldsville, PA 15851


"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research,
would it?" --Albert Einstein

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Jan 3 2008 8:39 pm
From: James Parton


Ed, Scott.

You are right, you cannot force kids to like the outdoors, all we can
do is introduce them to it. Not all are like I was & fall into it as
if it were meant-to-be. I like your geocaching idea. Most kids love
treasure hunts. My girl does. I have stumbled on a couple of " caches
" myself by accident while hiking. I have always left them be for
someone who is actually looking for them.

James Parton.