January 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 35

BOOK REVIEW

Green space is a stress reliever, and
it can have amazing effects on kids.
Teachers often note that some of their
most rowdy students show an unprecedented focus when on outdoor field
trips. Kids who can barely sit still for
math tests will sit and count the legs of
a dozen millipedes. Outdoor time can
also reduce Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms including
inattention and impulsivity. And as a
bonus, it also increases critical thinking skills in children.
Outdoor learning facilitates health
and wellness. Students can imagine
a raindrop falling from the sky, but
when they become raindrops rolling
down the hill, they really connect
with the watershed. Bonus - they're
exercising without even realizing it!
There is remarkable nature everywhere, not just in far-flung destinations. I've worked with students from
one-roomed schools in Wyoming to
the urban youth of downtown Milwaukee, and with a bit of enthusiastic
encouragement, backyard biodiversity
becomes as intriguing as the plains of
Africa or the Australian outback. This
fall, I overheard a student whispering
to himself in near disbelief, " That huge
tree started out like that little sapling! "
He knew this to be true, but the sinceri-

The Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book:
448 Great Things to Do in Nature
Before You Grow Up
By Stacy Torino and Ken Keffer
" Go outside and play! " It's a directive we heard from
our parents as children, and it's likely one we've handed down to our own kids. But, in today's world of
video games and structured activities, children may
be at a loss when it comes to figuring out what to do
once they've been ushered off the couch and into
the backyard or local park. Fortunately, Stacy Tornio
and Ken Keffer took the time to gather hundreds of
suggestions and solutions to make outdoor play fun,
exciting, educational and interactive.
The Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book divides these activities into seasons, so there's always something to
do no matter the weather. Torino and Keffer suggest
games, projects and even simple recipes to make
healthy foods with kids, as well as fun destinations
for when a road trip is in order. They've also provided a helpful how-to section to open the book, with
instructions on how to select an activity and get kids
excited for all the great outdoors has to offer. This is an excellent
resource for park and recreation programmers, as it includes activities that are easily
translatable to a community center setting, special event or ongoing classes.
With adorable illustrations courtesy of Rachel Riordan, The Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book is essential reading for families and park and recreation professionals, not
to mention a great way to start planning activities for the New Year. Look for it at area
booksellers or online at www.amazon.com.
- Samantha Bartram, Associate Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

ty of that simple connection reinforced
the value of outdoor experiences to me.
While technology takes much of
the heat for the shift in childhood and

On the Way to Connecting 10 Million
Kids - With Your Help
NRPA and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) need your help. We are gathering data on how many kids participated in outdoor programs and nature activities
during the second full year of the 10 Million Kids Outdoors campaign. Almost 700
park and recreation agencies have now signed on in support of the 10 Million Kids
Outdoors initiative, and we need your help in compiling the count.
To see if your agency is signed on in support of the 10 Million Kids Outdoors initiative, go to www.nrpa.org/10MillionKidsOutdoors. Not sure if you should be the one
to fill out the form, or have other questions? Contact Jessica Culverhouse at jculverhouse@nrpa.org. If your agency is not yet registered, it is not too late to get involved.
We can blast our goal with your help.

Nature Deficit Disorder, it can't take
all the blame. Yes, it might take a little
more encouragement to get kids outdoors these days, but outdoor adventure still awaits. Childhood is still a glorious time, and children are still really
good at being kids. Curiosity, wonder
and the playful spirit of youth prevail.
So now it's up to us to keep encouraging those 10 million kids to get
outside. The outdoors is a necessary
and valuable part of childhood, and
it should be experienced to the fullest.
Sharing the outdoors is inspiring and
essential work. Let the Nature Immersion Therapy begin.
Ken Keffer is a Naturalist with Milwaukee
County Parks in Wisconsin (kckeffer@gmail.
com).

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January 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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