Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/educating-the-next-generation-to-care-for-the-sonoran-desert/5025842/
*Photos can be found in the pdf version of this article.
Do not count the days, but make every day count.”
—Anonymous sidewalk message discovered on my morning walk
What is your first memory of the natural world? I love to ask this question when I am meeting with adults who will be working with youth. Common responses include exploring their backyard or park, gardening alongside a caregiver, making a mud pie, climbing a tree, rolling in leaves, playing in the ocean, or visiting a garden or zoo on a school field trip. What our generation experienced has become a far less common occurrence for many children today. The outdoors was our playground, where we developed and grew and connected to the natural world. The outdoor spaces we explored have been a focus of extensive research over the years, revealing that nature play is fundamental, supporting child development. In a recent publication in Science Alert, child care programs in Finland built a Forest Floor and it, quite literally, changed children’s immune systems. With this increased body of knowledge, it makes sense that early childhood programs need to be advocates for fostering rich experiences that immerse children in the outdoors.
The Desert Botanical ...