Last Child in the Woods, Part II

Last December, I recommended that parents pick up a copy of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. The book asserts that children today do not spend enough time outdoors, leading to what he calls "nature deficit disorder." I recently came across an interview with Mr. Louv in which he shared this interesting thought:

"But most of all, I think our plugged-in kids, who spend so much time in front of the TV and computer screen, are missing out on many chances to feel a sense of wonder. What I'd really like to communicate to fellow parents is that we shouldn't think about a child's experience in nature as an extracurricular activity but as a vital element for a healthy child's development. That's what the new research strongly suggests."

Perhaps the reason that overnight camps are largely found in wilderness settings is an inherent understanding of this need. Beyond the sense of wonder, the benefits of a wilderness setting can be seen daily around a camp.

No Electric Outlets Around Here

A fellow camp director recently recommended a book by Richard Louv called Last Child in the Woods. Mr Louv is an advocate for children finding experiences in the outdoors and he links many of today's childhood difficulties to the absence of nature in childrens' lives. On one of the early pages he has included a quote from a fourth grader:

"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electric outlets are."

I can't wait to get back to camp.