Get Out

One universal trait among the Earthkeepers we know is a genuine love of the outdoors – and one of the best ways we know to ensure a growing breed of Earthkeepers is to pass that love on to the next generation.

While that sounds fairly intuitive, a Kaiser Family Foundation study reveals that the average American child spends more than 6 hours a day staring at some sort of electronic screen (think TV, computers, video games).  As they become more connected to modern technology, our children are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature.

Fortunately, organizations like the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Outdoor Foundation have created campaigns to fight “nature deficit disorder” and reinforce the importance of outdoor experiences in the lives of our children:

• The Outdoor Foundation’s “I Will” campaign asks supporters to pledge to take at least two kids outside to experience an outdoor activity over the course of the next year.  The campaign launched earlier this month when more than 2,500 members of the Outdoor Industry Association took the pledge during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, and is now open to the general public.
• The NWF’s “Green Hour” program suggests a greater commitment – an hour a day for kids to experience unstructured play and interaction with the natural world – but recognizes that even a few minutes a day is an improvement in the life of a child who has lots of “screen time” but no “green time.”

The impact of global warming won’t end with our generation – and efforts to combat it can’t end here, either.  Take the I Will pledge, find a green hour, get out – and take a budding Earthkeeper with you.  You’ll both be glad you did.