The importance of The Great American Backyard Campout

Did you know that today, 25% of kids play outside daily as opposed to 75% a generation ago?

Be a part of The Great American Backyard Campout and set an example for children that will get them excited about the great outdoors. Join thousands of campers on June 24, or you can choose another day that’s convenient for you. Check out www.nwf.org and see the ideas from the National Wildlife Federation.

The NWF’s website tells us that they have a new Green Hour Program, which is designed to encourage parents, schools, childcare centers, park agencies, camps, grandparents and others to adopt a goal of an hour each day for children to play and learn outdoors in nature.

The idea of a “Green Hour” comes from research on creative play and health by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Academy of America Pediatrics. Research also shows the best way to connect young people to a lifelong concern for nature, wildlife and the outdoors is through regular positive experiences.

Getting kids outside has never been more important. That’s why the NWF teamed up with L.L.Bean to provide kids and families with safe, fun and easy activities to do outdoors. Each week, the NWF will provide new activities for connecting kids to nature — from creating a nature notebook to becoming a wildlife detective and getting creative with leaves. Nature’s opportunities are endless.

The NWF is working with the major influencers of children’s time to make the outdoors a bigger part of their everyday lives.

Schools and community-based organizations across the country are incorporating regular time for outdoor learning and play, using the NWF’s Schoolyard Habitats, Eco-Schools USA program and opportunities such as tree planting events with Trees for Wildlife. The NWF also offers educational resources such as lesson plans, curriculum and webinars for connecting kids and nature.

The nature of childhood has changed. American childhood has moved indoors during the last two decades, taking a mental and physical toll on today’s kids.

The negative impact of decreased time outdoors includes a doubling of the childhood obesity rate — accompanied by a $ 100 billion cost to our healthcare system — as well as declining creativity, concentration and social skills.

Our state of Oklahoma ranks 18th in childhood obesity (defined as ages 1017), and 17.5 percent of the children in Oklahoma are obese.

Connecting children and nature has important health benefits. Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression and boosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment.

Facts: Outdoor Time and Children

• Children are spending half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago.

• Children who play outside are more physically active, more creative in their play, less aggressive and show better concentration.

• An hour of daily unstructured free play is essential to children’s physical and mental health.

• The most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “wild nature activities” before the age of 11.

• I would encourage all teachers to look at the website to find ideas that they could incorporate into their lesson plans in the coming school year.

• Parents and grandparents need to become advocates for outdoor time for the children in their lives.

Kilgore is the former Greenleaf State Park manager. He can be reached by e-mailing him at jkilgoreoutdoors@yahoo.com.