Readers Corner

Earth Day is Coming

This way to the tree.

In the last couple of years there has been an increasing awareness that kids aren’t getting enough outdoor time. A recent article reported that “teens up to the age of 18 are exposed to nearly 11 hours of media in a typical day.” No wonder young people have lost the connection to, and interest in bugs, plants, trees, birds and all things natural. The concern about this issue has grown to the point that we now have a “No Child Left Inside” movement as a spin off from the book “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv (http://richardlouv.com/) – available in the library. The book is often cited as a must read for parents.

We’re very fortunate here in Yellow Springs to have a relatively safe outdoor environment for kids to enjoy. Plus, we have miles of Glen Helen trails, the Raptor Center and the Outdoor Education Center in our backyard. I recently read that we even have a community summer camp scholarship program to make sure all of our kids have a chance to enjoy an outdoor experience.

We are surrounded with the right environment. The key is to decide that we are going to use it to keep our kids connected to something other than the internet. Earth Day is good time to get started. Take a kid for a walk sometime soon and see what’s outside. I hope you don’t need a sign to help find the trees.

A. Reader

Related post: Community Council Summer Camp Scholarships