July 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 38
FUTURE LEADERS
Preserving Our Connection to This Land
By Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D., and Jody M. Baker
J
uly is a special time of year for people in the United States. A few short
days into the month, we celebrate the independence of our nation with
fireworks, picnics and more. As summer really begins to sizzle, many
people spend more time outside than they do during the rest of the year.
Families take vacations, kids are out of school and outdoor recreation is big
business. Summer is special for parks and recreation professionals because exciting outdoor programming is underway and participation is at its peak.
While news and research indicates
children are spending less and less time
outside, the summer months serve
as an exception to this modern rule.
Outdoor recreation is in high gear for
youth whether at swimming pools,
backyards, summer camps or parks.
Summer is often the time many kids
begin to cultivate their connection to
nature and the many vast open green
spaces the United States has to offer.
While the physiological, psychological and social benefits of kids
being outside are well document-
36 Parks & Recreation
ed, an additional benefit is perhaps
overlooked. Getting our children
outdoors and engaged with nature
creates a connection to our national values and practice of preserving
sacred places. A short moment spent
reminiscing about childhood summers probably recalls memories of
picnics, smells of cut grass and ice
cream. It is important to also consider, however, where these memorable
moments took place. These authors
would venture to guess many readers' special memories are set in back-
| J U LY 2 0 1 5 | W W W. N R PA . O R G
yards, local lakes, forests, swimming
pools and parks - scared places.
As the pinnacle celebration of patriotism gears up, we must ask ourselves:
Are we cultivating a sense of why this
land is so dear to us, and are we passing that along to new generations?
There is no doubt outdoor recreation
improves a child's well-being, but it is
also vital in creating a sense of pride,
stewardship and gratuity for our natural spaces. Taking children to America's sacred places provides an opportunity to recreate outdoors and a chance
to understand how these historical, cultural and/or natural areas define what
America was, is and can be.
These unique places preserve the
essence of America and are special to
each of us. It is time for park and recreation professionals to add another
justification for getting our nation's
July 2015 - Parks & Recreation
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July 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 1
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