[MissoulaGov] Missoula to host Children and Nature Summit In February

[Becky Goodrich]

Western Montana Children and Nature Network Press Release
For immediate release through February 11, 2009
Contact information below.
 
Missoula to host Children and Nature Summit
 
The serious increases in obesity, depression and attention-deficit
disorders among American children can be traced directly to the lack of
nature and the outdoors in their lives, best-selling author Richard Louv
writes in his book "Last Child in the Woods."
 
Missoula is not immune from these trends, even though outdoor activities
in a beautiful setting are just outside most front doors. Local research
shows that Missoula kids are drawn by the allure of television, video
games and the Internet and prone to what Louv calls "nature-deficit
disorder" just as children are nationwide.
 
"It's not rocket science for Montanans that there are many benefits for
kids spending time outdoors.  It's our heritage," said Greg Oliver,
health promotion director at the Missoula City-County Health Department.
"The recent thinking is that quality time outdoors is more important for
healthy child development than we ever imagined.  It is a sad commentary
on our times that even in Missoula we need to work together to counter
the trend of kids not getting out enough to move, play, and explore the
natural world."  
 
To that end, a coalition of Missoula's youth organizations, educators,
health experts, environmentalists and resource managers have joined
forces to form the Western Montana Children and Nature Network.  The
Network is holding the first annual Missoula Children and Nature Summit
Feb. 11-13 to raise awareness of the problem of nature deficit and
explore ways to reconnect children and nature.
 
"The Summit is an opportunity for people in the greater Missoula area to
learn about and discuss the impacts of nature deficit here at home,"
said Network founder Donna Gaukler, director of the City of Missoula's
Parks and Recreation Department.   "Because of our location and natural
resources, we tend to be more outdoor-oriented than much of the nation.
Nevertheless, we are seeing similar trends in obesity and disengagement
from our natural world.  The Western Montana Children and Nature Network
is an ongoing venture which will provide wonderful opportunities for
recreation and learning that is fully accessible and inclusive."
 
The Summit will feature a keynote address by Rick Potts, the Chief of
Conservation and Outdoor Recreation for the National Park Service.
Potts will speak on "Amazing Impacts of Nature on Kids" and share his
personal and professional observations and experiences related to nature
deficit on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in University of Montana's North Urey
Lecture Hall.   The keynote and opening session will also feature music
from Missoula's Coyote Choir and singer/songwriter Amy Martin, plus a
Kids' Nature Night Hike for ages 5 to 12.  Please ensure that children
are dressed for the weather.  The opening session is free.
 
On February 12 and 13, the summit will include sessions on nature
connectedness, the built and natural environment, No Child Left Inside,
unstructured outdoor play, and mobilizing Generation Y (young adults in
their late teens, 20's, and early 30's) to step up as role models and
mentors for younger kids.  The public is invited to attend, and the fee
for all sessions is $18.  To register, visit 
www.cfc.umt.edu/children&nature or stop by Currents Aquatics Center in
McCormick Park for a registration form.  Recertification credits are
available for teachers who participate in the conference through the
Western Montana Comprehensive System for Personnel Development, details
at www.cspd.net. 
 
For more information on the Summit or the Western Montana Children and
Nature Network, visit  www.cfc.umt.edu/children&nature,  phone Missoula
Parks and Recreation at 721-PARK (7275) or e-mail Sarah Megyesi at 
sarah.megyesi at umontana.edu.  After the Summit, look for guided nature
outings and events, a Web site of resources and links and educational
opportunities from the Western Montana Children and Nature Network.   
 
The Missoula Children and Nature Summit is sponsored by the National
Park Service, the University of Montana College of Education Foundation,
the United States Forest Service, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife
and Parks, University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation,
Missoula County Rural Initiatives, Missoula Parks and Recreation,
Montana Natural History Center, and the American Society of Landscape
Architects - MT/ID Chapter, Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures, and
many additional businesses and organizations.  
(end)
Press Contacts:
Children and Nature Summit:
James Burchfield  (out of town until Jan. 20)
Associate Dean of College of Forestry and Conservation
UM College of Forestry and Conservation 
Phone: 406-243-6650
Email: james.burchfield at umontana.edu
 
Rick Potts
National Park Service
1849 C Street, NW, Org. Code 2220
Washington, D.C. 20240
Phone: 202-354-6900
FAX: 202-371-5179
Email- rick_potts at nps.gov
 
Lisa Bickell
Education Director, Montana Natural History Center
327-0405, Fax 327-0421
lbickell at MontanaNaturalist.org
 
Fletcher Brown
Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education
UM School of Education
243-5287
fletcher.brown at umontana.edu
 
Children and Nature Network
Donna Gaukler
Director, Missoula Parks and Recreation
Phone: 552-6265
dgaukler at ci.missoula.mt.us
 
Greg Oliver 
Health Promotion Director, Missoula City-County Health Department
258-4775 
OliverG at ho.missoula.mt.us
 
Vivaca Crowser
Regional Information and Education Program Manager
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
542-5518
vcrowser at mt.gov
 
 
 
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