June 2, 2010

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment offers several opportunities to get outside during No Child Left Inside Week, June 7-13. This week, set aside annually, is a way to highlight the importance of getting Michigan's children outdoors for at least one hour every day.

"We know that getting children outdoors benefits them physically, mentally and emotionally," said Raymond Rustem of the DNRE's Marketing, Education and Technology Division. "Children today need to reconnect with their outdoor heritage. In many cases, children understand less about the animals and plants in their own backyards than they do the characters from popular TV shows or video games."

A proclamation signed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, establishing the week, recognizes the decline in the time children spend outdoors and encourages parents and other caregivers to be outdoor mentors. In support of this effort, the DNRE suggests people participate in any of the 10 activities recently adopted in Michigan House Resolution 200 - things the resolution sponsors believe every child in Michigan should have the opportunity to experience:

- Visit a Great Lake

- Sit beneath a 100-year-old tree

- Go fishing

- Plant a native flower

- Stargaze

- Hike a trail

- Follow animal tracks

- Listen to a chorus of frogs

- Canoe, kayak or float a river

- Toast a marshmallow on a campfire

"There is no better place to participate in any of these activities than at one of Michigan's 98 state parks and recreation areas on our millions of acres of state forests lands," Rustem said. "Many state parks offer programs geared toward children and families, and these are perfect opportunities to strengthen the child-nature connection."

Rustem, who is a founding member and current chairperson of the Michigan No Child Left Inside Coalition, noted that many Michigan state parks and interpretive centers have scheduled special events and programming that coincide with No Child Left Inside Week. For example, the summer Explorer Ranger program (introducing families and kids to the many outdoor opportunities in state parks) is in full swing at 40 state parks, and the DNRE's Free Fishing Weekend is slated for June 12-13.

On Thursday, June 23, the DNRE offers another great opportunity for people to learn about forging the child-nature relationship: the No Child Left Inside Summit, on the campus of University of Michigan-Dearborn. This summit, featuring keynote speaker Yusuf Burgess (a noted environmental educator and author), is presented by the Michigan No Child Left Inside Coalition, a collection of organizations working to rekindle the connection between Michigan's children and nature. The coalition is committed to promoting activities and policies that will help children reconnect with nature through outdoor play and exploration, recreational opportunities and hands-on environmental education. Learn more at www.mi-ncli.org

For Governor Granholm's proclamation, Michigan House Resolution 200, suggested outdoor activities for children and families, details about the DNRE's Free Fishing Weekend and more information about the June 23 No Child Left Inside summit, visit www.michigan.gov/nochildleftinside.