Syracuse University

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's Northern Forest Institute
for Conservation Education and Leadership Training (NFI) has taken a lead role in
building a statewide effort to reconnect children with nature so they can reap the
benefits of experiencing, and learning about, the natural world.

The NFI has helped organize a partnership called "Children in Nature, New York"
that is sponsoring a slate of events in the Adirondacks and Capital Region to draw
attention to increasing the connection between the state's children and the natural
environment.

Events will take place the first weekend of May in the Adirondacks and Saratoga
Springs.

"Playing outdoors does more for children than just let them burn off excess energy,"
says Paul Hai, program coordinator at SUNY-ESF's Adirondack Ecological Center in
Newcomb, where the NFI is headquartered. "Researchers are seeing that exposure to
nature has a substantive, measurable effect on children's physical, psychological and
mental well-being. It has a real effect on their behavior and study skills and their
ability to think creatively."

Hai is also one of the 10 members of the national Children and Nature Network's
Grassroots Leadership Team.

The roll-out event planned for May 1 and 2 includes a Friday evening program in
Saratoga Springs, a daytime festival at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake and a
Saturday evening program in Lake Placid.

The following events are scheduled:

• Friday, May 1: Reception and ice cream social, including attendance from
  elected public officials and a presentation by author Richard Louv, who wrote
  the best-selling "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-
  Deficit Disorder" (Algonquin Books, 2005). Attendance is by invitation only.
  
• Saturday, May 2: More than 25 organizations from around the region will
  gather at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake to offer information and ideas to
  families looking to reconnect with nature. Family activities will be spread
  across the 31-acre facility, including, kite building, fly fishing, nature
  scavenger hunts and identifying trees. Louv will offer a presentation and book
  signing in the afternoon. The event is free, runs 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and is open to
  the public.
  
• Saturday, May 2: A reception and presentation by Louv will precede a
  conversation exploring how to create the systemic lines of communication and
  partnerships between the healthcare, medical, educational and resource
  management communities that will maximize the effort and magnify the
  positive impacts of reconnecting children to nature across New York. The
  event will be 6:30-9 p.m. at the Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid. Attendance is
  by invitation only.
  

"Children in Nature, New York" is a partnership between the NFI, the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation; Great Play! Lake Placid Sport
Summit; Come Out and Play! Children in Nature, Saratoga; and The Wild Center.