EXTENSION REPORT

Getting Closer To Nature

Children love being outside; climbing trees, looking at birds and other wildlife they can find around their neighborhood.  Most adults can recall numerous forest or farm experiences when we were younger.  Whenever a teacher announces a field trip or just to go outside in the courtyard the students get so excited and can`t wait to get out of the classroom. Through my experience, I have observed some students especially in middle school, that may be a little hesitant to get out at first, but after a couple of days of being outside, they would be requesting passes from their teachers to go outside.

The purpose of this article is to outline the importance of nature in the total development of our youth.  Nature includes all the natural amenities around us and getting involved and interacting with these natural features makes us better stewards of the environment.  Nature helps us develop academically, socially, psychologically, and physically.  Research has shown that the lack of exposure to the natural world is related to Attention Deficit Disorder, depression and obesity in children.  It is important that we start this process of stewardship at an early age so that the youth will be more aware and interested in protecting the environment. A couple of reasons why environmental groups and other non-profit organizations start their programs in schools are to allow the students to take the message home to their parents. Secondly, the youth are more receptive to information.  We all know how change is difficult with adults!

One solution in getting closer to nature is by taking students on field trips to the forest.  However, this is time consuming, costly and risky.  Though this is the ideal method and the students will be exposed to more variety of wildlife, trees and natural beauty.  Our non-traditional programs are established to provide similar forest features on the school campus and in communities so that students, teachers, staff and community members can enjoy their surroundings more meaningfully.  These nature establishments may be termed differently; nature trail, outdoor learning center, outdoor facility, or more commonly known as outdoor classroom in the school setting or a nature park in a community setting.  Whatever you wish to call it; it mainly comprises of the following:  flower garden, vegetable garden, pond with or without fish, stream dry or flowing, water fountain, bird boxes and forest trees.  You may wish to add or remove features based on the property size, budget and other requirements.

One of the main goals of the outdoor classroom program is to provide the youth with a sense of awareness and appreciation of nature.  Most Urban youth spend most of their time indoors, watching television, on the phone, or playing indoor games, thus developing an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle.  In the traditional school setting the students learn science in a classroom environment with little or no exposure to the actual ecological topic being studied.  Research has shown hands on activity and direct exposure to the physical amenity being studied helps students retain and understand material with less effort from teachers.  Outdoor classroom also aid youth develop positive behaviors and attitudes, thus preparing them to be more responsible citizens.   Once this nature area has been organized in a school or in the community, they should be maintained, and kept clean and attractive. Let us protect the earth that has been graciously loaned to us.

If you need additional information or assistance in establishing an area with natural features or amenities at your school, community or at work contact me at 251-574-8445 or cell  251-259-1265 or email me at   mnm0001@auburn.edu.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability