Are your kids really spending enough time outdoors?

Spiritual development
Just as my children grappled with the dragonfly's mortality, many youngsters are stirred by nature to question their place in the world. Most of the students applying for admission to Canadian University College's Outward Pursuits -- a program that combines humanitarian service (a component of spiritual growth) with wilderness learning activities -- had important childhood experiences in nature. “I would say 85 to 90 per cent have had experiences while growing up in the out-of-doors that had brought them into this situation,” says Paul Lehmann, associate professor and chair of the Outward Pursuits program at the college's Alberta site in Lacombe.

For Lehmann, the tie between one's spiritual life and nature is an important one. “Can the spiritual journey happen outside of nature?” he asks reflectively. “Yes, but it's slower. There's too much coming in. The brain and heart can't deal with all that stuff coming in.” And so, with nature having such a significant impact on a child's overall development, it should be a necessary part of growing up. Nature shouldn't be just a frill as it's sometimes viewed today, says Collyer. “One way to describe childhood right now is that it's moving indoors and in front of the screen. The solution to that is to invest the time to be outdoors with your kids and watch their imaginations turn on.”

Have fun with nature
Here are some fun ways to make nature a part of your family's life.

• Go for a walk and learn about the bugs, birds, trees and wildflowers near your home. Bring along one of the child-friendly regional guides from Lone Pine Publishing that have easy-to-identify species. Some of their titles include: Bugs of British Columbia, Animal Tracks of Ontario and Mammals of Alberta. Ask for them at your local library or favourite bookstore.

• Plant something -- a tree, a tomato plant or a sunflower. Or try the sunflower house in Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (Algonquin of Chapel Hill, $19.95) by Richard Louv.

• Volunteer to help restore natural streams, build a naturalization project or clean up a hedgerow. For ideas, contact Nature Canada at 1-800-267-4088 or visit their website.

• Check out naturalist groups. Log on to the Nature Canada site for information about naturalists in your area. Or visit a nearby nature centre (contact your local tourism information centre to find one near you). Some nature centres, such as the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland, Ont., offer year-round family educational programs and activities; for example, at the Wye Marsh Parent and Tot Program, you can hike and bird-watch. For more information, contact Wye Marsh at (705) 526-7809.

Personal connection
Here are some sites to help you get personally connected with nature.
1. The Evergreen site lists volunteer opportunities and provides information about programs and educational resources. It also includes a native plant database and a discussion forum.

2. Planet Friendly, operated by People and Planet, lists outdoor and nature parks, resource centres, groups and gathering places, among other resources.

3. Nature Canada, a nonprofit conservation organization that introduces children to nature through outreach and education programs, provides a variety of ways to get involved. Go to the Nature Network tab, then select Provincial Affiliates for a list of provincial naturalist organizations.

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