Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, coined the term “nature deficit disorder” to describe the human costs of alienation from nature which manifests in behavior and learning disorders, childhood obesity, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses in children. Children who connect with the natural world gain life changing benefits such as enhanced learning, skill development and decreased behavioral issues.

Response:
Iowa State University Extension Family Life Specialists Mary Crooks, Kristi Cooper and Wendy Peterson in partnership with Dimensions Educational Research Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation offered a full day workshop “Diggin the Outdoors” for early childhood professionals, parents and community leaders. The 6 hour training was held Tuesday, February 24, 2009 in the North Ridge Pavilion, an environmentally friendly building owned by the city of Coralville, Iowa. Participants snacked on organic foods catered by the local food cooperative and served on washable dinnerware with cloth napkins. Participants received the ‘Learning with Nature Idea Book’ and other materials provided by the Helen LeBaron Hilton fund. Topics presented included connecting young children with the natural world, and how Nature Explore Classrooms make nature an integral part of outdoor spaces in early childhood programs elementary schools and parks. Participants discovered how well-designed outdoor spaces facilitate children’s’ overall development in academic areas, strengthen specific skills and enhance emotional growth.

Impact:
Forty-nine participants representing elementary schools, child care centers, high schools, preschools, master gardener programs, playground companies, community action organizations and city parks & recreation departments came from seven Iowa counties and Illinois. As a result of the workshop, participants stated specific actions they will take including planning and installing a Nature Explore classroom by fall 2009, making existing areas more natural, revitalizing a greenhouse, creating box gardens with children, and finding funding for materials. The most significant concepts learned included how important outdoor play is for body and brain, how outdoor learning enhances indoor learning, how to clearly delineate outdoor space for learning and to allow children the unstructured time to explore nature. Participants said “I am amazed by children’s’ innate skill at observing, recording (mentally and physically) and reporting their learning.”; “I am thinking about our new (outdoor) area as an adjunct classroom, not a deeper and more profound play area.” And “I will continue to fight against rubber mats, concrete and asphalt.” Another stated “I appreciate the “do-ability” of the outdoor environmental areas.” And “The Learning with Nature Idea book is a wealth of information!”

Additional ISUE Extension Staff:

Mary Crooks, Family Life Specialist, mcrooks@iastate.edu
Wendy Peterson, Family Life Specialist, wpeterso@iastate.edu

Additional Team Members or Community Partners:
Susan Wirth, Dimensions Educational Research Foundation in collaboration with Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, NE

Contact:
Kristi Cooper
Linn County Extension
3279 7th Ave, Ste 140
Marion, IA 52302
319-377-9839
kcoop@iastate.edu