Hosting a NatureBlitz

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Originally appears in the Spring 2019 issue.

WE HAVE SEEN A dramatic shift in the way children spend their time, with less time playing outside and more time spent indoors, sedentary and screen-based. A growing body of research is sounding the alarm about the amount of time children are spending sitting in front of screens. All this time spent on screens — video games, smartphones, tablets, computers, and television — is having a negative impact on children’s physical, mental, and social health.

At the same time, we know that time spent in nature and being active outdoors is beneficial to children’s health and overall well-being, and helps improve their resiliency, academic performance, and social skills. When children spend time outside in nature, they find opportunities to learn, explore, discover, and understand the natural environment. Time in nature helps to build a strong connection to and lifelong love and appreciation of the natural world. It also helps get kids away from screens and learn about the beauty of nature right where they live. Teachers can play a vital role in this learning as it can be done without leaving their own schoolyard.