Children and Nature Author Louv in Missouri

Author Richard Louv returns to Missouri on Thursday, Jan. 31 to speak at the Missouri Natural Resources Conference. His book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,” drew national attention to the fact that today’s children have less and less experiences outdoors in nature. What it means not only for their health, but for the future of our society, are highlighted.

As a result of the great public interest in this, Louv and others founded the Children & Nature Network, which works to support the movement, the diverse efforts, to reconnect children to with nature. Louv grew up in Missouri and now lives California. No matter where he speaks, though, people recognize the need to focus on this and work in a lot of different ways to change the trend—whether it’s as a parent, a teacher, a developer or in just about any role.

Helping connect children to nature is a key goal of the new Learning Outdoors/Discover Nature-Schools program and grants the Missouri Department of Conservation is providing for Missouri schools that I mentioned in a previous blog post. Through that and our Discover Nature/outdoor families programs we’re working to help Missourians make that connection.