Today’s youth are becoming increasingly disconnected with nature and the outdoors. While there are many physical, cognitive and emotionally issues associated with more sedentary children who stay inside, this issue is also important to park managers because if today’s youth – tomorrow’s voters – aren’t connected with places like Glacier, it will be even more challenging to protect and preserve parks for the future generations. Connecting children (and adults) with nature today is directly related to developing their stewardship ethic so they will be willing to take action to care for parks, forests and nature tomorrow. To date, we have supported Glacier’s program for eight family workshops to over 300 children and parents and four adult professional workshops to over 110 adults who work with youth. This project continues the work Glacier started in 2009 and continued in 2010 by developing a Reconnecting Children with Nature workbook that anyone who works with youth (families, teachers, youth program leaders, scout leaders, park rangers, etc.) can use to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to get kids outdoors! The “workbook” will have a multiplier effect reaching thousands of adults who work with youth with this valuable information.

This project will take all the lesson plans, resource handouts, reference materials and feedback from the family and professional workshops developed and delivered in 2009 and 2010 and produce a “workbook” that can be provided free to anyone who works with youth and wants to get them outside and engaged in nature. While Glacier National Park and outdoor spaces around this region will serve as examples, the material will be designed such that anyone who works with youth, no matter where they live, will be able to apply the information to their specific circumstances and the youth they work with. The “workbook” will be fully downloadable from the park’s website and include both written content along with video segments demonstrating the concepts, principles and activities.

Additional family workshops, like those conducted in 2009 and 2010, will focus on traditionally underserved youth and their families with the goal of providing the families with the understanding and “tools” to get outside and engage in nature play. The workshops include instruction, demonstration of activities and resource materials - with each participant receiving a free annual park entrance pass, a nature discovery kit and Cornell’s book “Sharing Nature with Children.”