Earlier we had a thread on being exposed to the outdoors and a life long interest in wildlife/conservation/fitness, etc.
I had no idea that “Congress is considering A No Child Left Inside Act that would make federal funds available for environmental education.”
What a good idea!
Story in the Denver Post. Learning goes into the wild. By Nancy Lofholm. The Denver Post
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
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Last year I went with my son to the outdoor education program at his school, here in Colorado. They go to the YMCA camp in Estes Park, it lies on the border of Rocky Mountain National Park. I had a blast!!!
I was amazed at how little the parents knew too. They were just as captivated.
This is an awesome idea. And, it will serve these kids well.
This is the best news I have heard for a long time.
Maybe WW would want to partner up too!
I am really glad to hear, that finally the agencies and others are taking notice of this, and working on plans to turn things around, growing up in the outdoors, it has really dismayed me to see such a lack of desire in the current generations o participate in the outdoors, I work a lot of kids that have never really be exposed to the outdoors an I find it exciting when they do get exposed, it is such an important part of growing up! Kudos to these folks and I really hope the programs started in CO can expand to other areas of the country.
What a great idea!!! I am sure Bush will veto it. Call me a pessimist.
I’d say realist.
Being I doubt the bill will be presented before Bush leaves office in January, I doubt he will have a chance to veto it..
New concept bills are often introduced in a Congress (I’m referring to the 2-year period called “a Congress”) with little expectation of passage, but instead of familiarization.
When the next Congress, or even the next one meets 4 years later, a serious effort to pass the bill is made.
Spending time outdoors as a kid can have big impacts on your relationship to nature as adult. It did for me.
I posted about my Childhood memories of my outdoor education on my blog.
http://urban-science.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-want-young-people-to-learn-about.html
That’s why study science now, I think and I love sharing science with others!!