Leave No Child Inside, a Chicago Wilderness Initiative

American children have changed how they spend their playtime and, as a result, their relationship to nature. They've gone from ruling the countryside to ruling the remote control in just 30 years. Today's digital era, compounded by loss of green space to development, has left kids plugged in and tuned out to nature, opting instead for time online or with a cell phone.

In his groundbreaking 2006 book Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, journalist Richard Louv cited kids' lack of direct experience with nature as largely to blame for alarming increases in obesity, attention deficit disorder and poor social skills. As an example, since the 1960s, when the amount of time children spent outdoors began to decrease, the percentage of obese youths has tripled. Louv's book has sparked a national movement to inspire parents to lead their children back into nature.

Wheaton Park District is taking action to reverse the dangerous trends created by children's disconnection from nature. Wheaton Park District joins Chicago Wilderness to launch a regional initiative called Leave No Child Inside, with the goal of improving children's health and fostering generations of children who care enough for nature to protect it.

Lincoln Marsh Natural Area provides programs to promote nature exploration by children and their families. We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about the exciting hands on programs we offer to the community.

With Leave No Child Inside, Wheaton Park District joins hundreds of other organizations that are members of the Chicago Wilderness consortium, an alliance of more than 200 public and private organizations working together to protect the Chicago region's natural spaces, help conserve the diversity of plants and animals, and enrich local residents' quality of life. Throughout the Leave No Child Inside initiative, Chicago Wilderness will offer workshops for educators, opportunities for partnerships among consortium and community organizations, and efforts at the state and federal levels to support outdoor programs for children.

Wheaton Park District's Lincoln Marsh Natural Area staff and other Chicago Wilderness members are experts in connecting children and adults to nature. With Leave No Child Inside, our goal is to promote children's health through outdoor play and exploration, and foster caring for nature in today's children and future generations.

One of the greatest gifts you can give children is your love of nature. Children need regular time outdoors, so visit Lincoln Marsh Natural Area with your kids to experience something new every time the weather changes. We offer wide open, natural places where your children can run, have fun, and play safely. Let your kids take the lead - with their natural curiosity, they will quickly find something to explore.

Encourage unstructured play in the outdoors; it can make kids happier, healthier and smarter. For tips on getting started, visit any of the links below:

• For tips from the National Wildlife Federation, visit www.greenhour.org

• Visit www.KidsOutside.info for ideas on where to go and what to do outside with your kids

• Download the Leave No Child Inside: Tips for Parents brochure (pdf, 322.0 KB)