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"It’s a promise, and a pledge... to help today’s children re-connect with the great outdoors, while building the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens."
Vermont’s No Child Left Inside Initiative
Venture Vermont 2009 Outdoor Challenge aims
to get more kids and families out to enjoy the outdoors
Why is it important?
Never before in history have children been so out of touch with the natural world. For many reasons, children today spend a great deal of time indoors. Richard Louv, who compiled research and wrote Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, directly links the lack of nature in the lives of children, (he calls it nature-deficit) to some of the most disturbing trends, such as the rise of levels in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.
For example, here in Vermont:
- Over 1/3 of school aged children spend three or more hours per school day watching TV, playing video games or playing on the computer for fun.
- Over 1/3 of our school aged children are overweight or obese.
- More than ½ of adults in Vermont are overweight or obese.
- 60% of Vermont adults do not get the recommended amount of physical activity and 25% are not active at all.
The goals of the initiative are to:
- Engage communities in outdoor activities that promote and restore good health for us, for the land and for the air we breathe.
- Encourage outdoor recreational, cultural, environmental, educational, social, and historical opportunities for children and families.
- Provide information about physical and natural features of parks, forests, wildlife and recreational opportunities.
What you can do:
All communities, organizations and agencies involved in health, education and outdoor recreation can collaborate by incorporating this message into your existing programs and spreading the word to the population at large. You can design activities or host events that meet the goals of the initiative and include Vermont’s No Child Left Inside (NCLI) logo, messages, and/or slogans on your organization’s notices for appropriate events and activities and post publicly.
A few ideas:
- Gather people together and share the messages of NCLI.
- Begin conversations about the benefits of getting children and families outdoors.
- Connect with schools and local organizations to co-sponsor an event or offer outdoor learning opportunities.
- Share the logo! Share information! Post NCLI information on your web site!
- Write articles, letters to the editor.
- Provide outreach to families and mentoring organizations.
- Provide opportunities for children to get outdoors through your organization or in collaboration with others
Partner organizations involved with the program include:
- The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Green Mountain Club
- Vermont Recreation & Parks Association
- Catamount Trail Association
- Vermont Department of Health
- Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
- Vermont Outdoor Guide Association
- Vermont Outdoor Woman
- Vermont Mountain Bike Association
- Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Vermont Out of School Time Network
- Vermont Safe Routes to School Program
- Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition
- University of Vermont Extension
To obtain a copy of the NCLI logo and these NCLI messages, or learn more about the No Child Left Inside movement and initiatives through an NCLI e-mail distribution listing, contact Sherry Smecker Winnie at (802) 241-3690 or e-mail Sherry: sherry dot winnie < at sign > state period vt dot us.
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