Join the Movement
Go outside! It’s spring, and Iowa is joining a broad based movement to renew a close, personal relationship with the out of doors.
- April 10-11–As part of Iowa’s “Reconnecting Children with Nature” effort, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Next Step are organizing the Iowa Outdoor Youth Summit. The goal of the event is to bring groups of youth and adults together to develop local and statewide plans to reconnect children and youth with nature. On Saturday, April 10, 100 people will organize community-based, environmentally-focused, youth-led service projects for Global Youth Service Day 2010 and beyond. The DNR will host the event at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center. An optional day of fun outdoor activities will take place on April 11th. Register for the Iowa Outdoor Youth Summit.
- Get Wild is the theme for National Wildlife Week–March 15-21, 2010. If you need a study to reinforce the positive effects of play on academic achievement, check out this report by Gallup and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- In 2008, Congress passed the “No Child Left Inside” Act. President Obama is the first president to include environmental education in his Education Budget.
- April 9-11, the University of Minnesota – Duluth will host the 11th annual Student Outdoor Educators Conference. This conference features workshops by and for students in adventure education, climbing, wilderness medicine, outdoor behavioral health, and other topics.