It's one of the simple facts of life: kids like to play-kids need to play-and playing in nature is a very crucial part of that play. Sadly, however, many of today's children do not have the time or motivation to go outside let alone play outside. In an effort to reconnect them with nature, members of the Michigan No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Coalition have set up a series of goals, which outline the highlights of their mission. While encouraging outdoor play for all children is a main point, the Coalition will also focus on providing more environmental recreation-related education for both children and parents. Unfortunately, this brand of education had been downsized in schools when No Child Left Behind caused educators to focus on language and math. However, in September of 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the No Child Left Inside Act of 2008, making environmental education a part of children's lives once again.

Some individuals might argue that, as a long as a child progresses in formal education and engages in some sort of physical activity, it should not matter whether or not they play outside.  Universities, after all, do not inquire as to whether or not you played in the dirt as a child. Although they don't inquire to this, they do measure and weigh physical and mental well being; the ability to handle stress, creativity, problem solving skills-these things still matter. According to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (2005) and inspiration for the No Child Left Inside Movement, developing an emotional connection with nature through exploration and play is the vital keystone in the formation of all these qualities.

With a 2008 release of an expanded version of Louv's book, the group of partners who started out with a presentation for the 2008 Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education conference, has now become a Coalition of eleven different organizations including: the Michigan Departments of Education, Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, the National Wildlife Federation, and UM-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center. The 2008 version of the book and accompanying presentation by Louv at the Kalamazoo Nature Center (also a member of the Coalition) were funded by the Center itself and marked the beginning of the movement. Additional contributors include:  the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Following their summit on June 25, 2009, the Coalition continues to work toward greater opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.

Sources:

http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=glnrc_education_MI_NCLI_main

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