Recognizing the growing gap between today's children and the outdoors, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has designated April 22-27 as "No Child Left Inside Days" in Michigan.

The Department of Natural Resources is promoting the benefits of outdoor recreation by providing a number of opportunities and suggestions for educators, parents and guardians to help in this effort to mend the child-nature connection.

"At a time like this when we are encouraging healthy lifestyles among children, 'No Child Left Inside Days' offer great opportunities to encourage children to participate in outdoor activities and to have an appreciation of our amazing natural resources," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.

According to Raymond Rustem, DNR community relations manager, today's kids spend less time in the outdoors than any previous generation.

"Even as late as the 1970s, kids still spent a great deal of their leisure time outdoors," Rustem said. "Today, it's less than 30 minutes a week and the area that today's child is able to roam is only about 10 percent of what it was for their parents and grandparents."

With this disconnect come other problems. Childhood obesity is five times higher than it was in the 1960s. Children have fewer and less diverse playmates than previous generations and most eight-year-olds are better able to recognize Pokemon and other trading card characters than they can common animals.

The six-day event begins on Earth Day and the DNR is offering several programs to encourage outdoor activities at its state park and state fish hatchery visitor centers across the state. The DNR expects to have more than 1,200 students participate in school programs during the week, and many of the centers also will be hosting special weekend family activities.

For teachers who cannot visit a DNR facility during No Child Left Inside Days, outdoor activities that can be done right on the school grounds are available online at www.michigan.gov/nochildleftinside.

The DNR also is encouraging kids to take an Outdoor Pledge to spend one hour each day outside. Kids who sign the pledge card and then fill out a log of their daily activities can send it to the DNR, Office of Communications, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909 to receive a copy of "Nature News," the DNR's publication for youth. They also will have their names added to the Nature News mailing list.

For the kids' pledge and a list of outdoor activities and suggestions or to see the Governor's proclamation, go to www.michigan.gov/nochildleftinside.

"We need to reconnect these kids. Without positive outdoor-based experiences, natural resources and conservation will lose its relevance to future generations of Michiganians," Rustem said. "If we don't start mentoring these kids now from where will the conservation leaders of tomorrow come?"