Children in Nature wins Friends of Recreation award
A state effort has been honored for its work to better connect Delaware’s families and professionals to nature through schools, parks, communities and health services.
The Governor’s Children in Nature Initiative won the Delaware Recreation & Parks Society’s 2013 Friends of Recreation Award, given to a person or organization that “has made important contributions toward the advancement and development of parks and open space or the advancement and development of recreation, educational or cultural programs or facilities in the state of Delaware.”
The Delaware Department of Education and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental worked with nonprofit and private partners on a taskforce to address the opportunities afforded by the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as well as a concern that children lack enough time to learn and play outdoors.
“Educators, parents and healthcare workers shared the concern that this ‘nature deficit’ could impede children’s health and academic success,” Secretary of Education Mark Murphy said.
After meeting regularly for more than two years and collaborating with 150 other professionals, the taskforce developed recommendations to combat increasing rates of childhood obesity, provide more opportunities for children to experience nature and integrate outdoor experiences into school curricula.
“Children who spend more time in nature are happier, healthier, perform better in school and gain an appreciation for the environment that lasts throughout their lives,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “Through Governor Markell’s Children in Nature Initiative, we are connecting more youth to the Delaware’s abundant natural treasurers and increasing students’ environmental literacy—and in doing so, providing a path back to nature for future generations. Our children deserve nothing less.”
In addition to DOE and DNREC staff, the taskforce included representatives from: Nemours Health and Prevention Services, the Delaware Nature Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Center for Inland Bays, Department of Health and Social Services/Division of Public Health, Delaware Greenways and the Delaware Association for Environmental Education.
The taskforce’s recommendations – available online here -- were released Oct. 1 and more work has been underway since then. Some of those accomplishments include:
Education
- Participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program, which helps Delaware schools become more sustainable and allows them to compete on a national level
- Delaware Nature Society won a grant to reach all seventh graders in Red Clay, Capital and Milford School Districts with watershed education programming. Implementation of professional development and student field experiences is occurring in a partnership between the Department of Education and DNS.
- Securing $27,000 in Community Environmental Projects Fund for field trips for schools with high low-income student populations (Title I)
- A published Teacher’s Guide to Delaware State Parks, which outlines school field trip and outreach opportunities to connect our classrooms to DNREC resources
- Partnership with the Department of Education and the Delaware Geographic Alliance to provide teacher training at four schools and establish programming on site for all fifth and seventh graders
- The Delaware Nature Society is working with Seaford School District to develop four schoolyard habitats along with programs for second and seventh graders.
- The East Coast Garden Center in Millsboro is collaborating with Longneck Elementary School to teach second graders about plants and natural growth cycles. Students receive their own aloe plant to bring home and care for.
Community
- CIN has formed a developing partnership with the West End Neighborhood to encourage outdoor play in after-school care programs, an expansion of their community garden, and more.
- Delaware State Parks is working with the Dover Public Library to create a Nature Nook that allows members an opportunity to borrow themed backpacks to explore the outdoors.
- CIN plan recognized with the Friends of Recreation Award, February 2012, from Delaware Recreation and Parks Society
Outdoor Connections
- Formation of the WHEE for Families (Weekly Healthy Earth Encounters) community group, which is dedicated to getting families outdoors through fun, group activities around Kent County
- DNS is starting a Wilmington teen program that will include monthly outdoor experiences
- The Nature Conservancy is partnering with DNREC for the LEAF student intern program, where students will assist with trail maintenance and learn about natural resource management.
- Nemours sponsored “free park entrance days” at Cape Henlopen and Trap Pond State Parks last year, and is looking to announce additional “days” in the future.
Health
- Healthy Kids Day at Trap Pond brings 1000 students outdoors to enjoy the park, learn about natural resources and how to live a healthy, active lifestyle
- DNS at Coverdale Farm Preserve is continuing the second year of a Healthy Eating, Healthy Living series with all students at Wilmington’s Urban Promise School
- Prescription for Health program in Sussex County, where local doctors and pediatricians write “prescriptions” for kids to spend time playing outdoors to counter obesity issues
- Started dialog with DelaWell program to push cross promotion
“The dedication of the taskforce is what the parks and recreation profession needs to build the next level of park professionals. The group never missed a step and continues to push to make the Children In Nature plan a reality,” according to the Delaware Recreation & Parks Society.
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Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
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