the email newsletter of the Nature Child Reunion Initiative

Success takes NCR to a new level!

The Nature Child Reunion initiative of the Kesho Trust has been hugely successful over the past three years!  From the first idea to build on Richard Louv's book, we have continued to lead a significant effort in BC and Canada to re-engage children with nature.  The Kesho Trust has most recently been a leader in both the organization of the recent Get Outside! Forum in Victoria [featuring Richard Louv - photo above] and the recent formation of the Child and Nature Alliance [see below].

Focusing on the importance of getting children and families back outside remains a strong element of the Kesho Trust's western Canada program.  We will continue to promote the idea and are working towards incorporating youth programing into other intiatives of the Kesho Trust such as our Muskwa-Kechika initiative.

Also Bob Peart continues to represent the Kesho Trust and speak about this important issue at various gatherings throughout the region.

Get Outside!

BC's Second Regional Forum on Children Families and Nature

This forum [March 5-8, 2009] was highly successful and as reported in our previous newsletter Bob Peart served as the lead coordinator. 210 people gathered from the Pacific Northwest with a number of people attending from Ontario, the eastern states and as far away as Australia. There is significant research that illustrates the ramifications to society and human health when children don't have the opportunity to spend time outdoors in unstructured play. Richard Louv, the acclaimed author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, spoke at the Forum and at a well-attended public lecture in Victoria. There is talk about hosting a 3rd Forum in two years.

Highlights of the Forum were:

• 35 youth were provided a bursary to ensure youth input to the discussions. Their presence was felt throughout the Forum as they provided an opening statement on the fundamental values they bring to such an event. As well as leading the closing ceremony they provided a response to each of the keynote speakers.

• the formation of the Child and Nature Alliance as the coordinating body for future discussions. See separate article on the Alliance

• the Hatley Park Declaration for Children, Families and Nature was approved and signed by the Forum attendees. The Declaration outlines the necessity that governments, non-government organizations, business and industry, individuals, parents and youth act to ensure that children become reconnected to nature

• the strong effort that was made to host a 'green forum'. Attendees composted, car-pooled, offset their carbon and drank from washable containers. All the food was locally sourced and at the end of the Forum only 7 pounds was 'actual garbage' resulted. It was the greenest forum ever held in Victoria

For more information on the Forum and for archived copies of all the keynote speeches please refer to www.childnature.ca.
 

The Child and Nature Alliance Society

The Child Nature Alliance was officially incorporated in March 2009 and announced at the Get Outside! Forum. The alliance will work both within and outside governments to encourage various groupings of NGO's, government agencies, early childhood educators, academics, urban planners and K-12 teachers and outside educators to undertake activities to get children back outside. The Alliance will serve as the leader in championing this important initiative.

The mission of the Alliance is to connect children and families with nature and the outdoors, in the settings where they live, play, learn and work. The following preliminary goals have been outlined:

1. Children have outdoor playtime included in their school and out of school lives.
2. Neighbourhoods are designed and built to allow nature to be nearby, accessible and attractive to children and their families.
3. Outdoor environments are friendly, safe, joyful and beneficial.
4. Children are competent in handling and benefit from the challenges of being outdoors and/or in wild nature.
5. Children understand, respect and cherish nature.

We are excited about the potential of the Alliance to focus government and the energy of the Get Outside! Forum to achieve the necessary policy reform and support for programs designed to focus on the need to reconnect children and families with nature.

A group of committed people is working to finalize matters related to governance, administration, funding and strategic priorities. If you refer to www.naturechild.ca you'll be able to track the formation of the Alliance. If you wish to become involved please contact us.

We are also pleased that Bob Peart was asked to serve as the interim chair of the Alliance. Leading up to the first Annual General Meeting and following the formation of an official Board the Kesho Trust will have a key role in the deliberations of the Alliance.