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At Your Doorstep: Creating Family Connections Outdoors
September 29, 2009 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern Time
At Your Doorstep: Creating Family Connections Outdoors
Learn about a new toolkit, At Your Doorstep, developed by educators at North Carolina State University, aimed at increasing opportunities for parents and children to spend more time together outdoors.
Did you know that many of the answers to the social, educational, and health challenges faced by children, parents and teachers may be right At Your Doorstep? Families who spend time outside together with their children in natural environments can increase their physical activity, connect family members with one another, and connect children with nature. However, for a variety of reasons children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation (Louv, 2005).
This free Acrobat/Connect webinar will explore the latest in factors that keep children indoors and offers many ideas for parent involvement with children outdoors. The webinar will provide participants with a toolbox to use in working with families to encourage outdoor activities and family routines outdoors.
Intended Audience (Benefits)
This training is intended for parent and family life educators who want to learn about the importance of creating opportunities for family to spend time together outdoors. Participants will learn about this new tool, At Your Doorstep, from North Carolina State University, designed to help educators work with parents and families to increase opportunities for parents and children to spend more time together outdoors. Ample opportunities for interaction with the presenters will be provided through this free webinar sponsored by the CYFERnet Parent/Family Editorial Board. Resources and links to resources and information will be provided.
Presenters
- Karen DeBord, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist, Child Development has been with North Carolina Cooperative Extension at North Carolina State University since 1995. Karen supports Extension Agents in North Carolina who conduct educational programs for parents, families and child care professionals. Her Preschool Outdoor Environment Measurement Scale (see poemsnc.org) has been useful in understanding quality in child care environments. She is also the Director of Graduate Programs for a Master's Degree in Family Life and Parenting Education.
- Lucy Bradley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, is the Urban Horticulture Specialist for North Carolina Cooperative Extension. She has connected children and their families with nature in school gardens, community gardens, 4-H clubs, Boys and Girls clubs, parks, neighborhoods and backyards. She is learning new strategies everyday from her five year old son.
- Liz Driscoll, M.S., Extension Associate, Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University has been working to connect 4-H youth and extension educators to issues in agriculture and the environment in meaningful ways. Strategies include dragging folks of all ages to tromp around gardens, woods, swamps and beaches, exploring interesting and weird plants and soils to growing vegetables and flowers, and sharing the wonder of the natural world together. She is married to a fellow plant geek and together they are working on their urban homestead project using sustainable practices to coax vegetables into production, chickens to lay eggs and bees to give forth a bounty of honey.
In Preparation for the Webinar: "Homework" Assignment
In just 90 minutes, it is difficult to fully set the stage for the information we wish to share with you in the upcoming "At Your Doorstep: Creating Family Connections Outdoors" webinar, Tuesday, September 29, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern. Before you participate in "At Your Doorstep", please set aside a few minutes to prepare for the training by doing a little bit of homework.
Assignment #1: View or listen
View this video from an interview with Ann Curry of the Today Show entitled, "Nature Deficit Disorder". The story features Richard Louv, author of The Last Child in the Woods (5:44 min.)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25701705#25701705
OR
Listen to this NPR story on the same topic: Saving Kids from 'Nature Deficit Disorder' (4:55 min.)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933
Assignment #2: Read
Select at least one of these short articles to read.
Nature may ease ADHD symptoms
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article717614.ece
Research Shows a Walk in the Park Improves Attention in Children with ADHD
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4529.html
Trees, Green Space and Human Well-being
http://lhhl.illinois.edu/media/2005.07_kanter.htm
Electronic handouts/resource links
1. Copy of the Powerpoint presenters notes
http://www.ncpen.org/Doorstep_notes.pdf
2. At Your Doorstep publication
http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/lockers/Driscoll_L/file/doorstep.pdf
Agenda
- Welcome and introductions
- Karen will provide an overview of trends in families and the outcome of spending an inordinate amount of time indoors instead of outdoors, how playing together and using the great outdoors as a stage for parent-child interactions can strengthen family relationships, and introduce resources to use with child care programs to be more intentional with outdoor learning.
- Lucy will identify strategies for encouraging outdoor activity and environmental stewardship including establishing routines, modeling respect for nature, encouraging curiosity, using all your senses, and taking time to observe closely. In addition, she will also present recommended components for a kit for enjoying nature with children, and safety strategies for outdoor play.
- Liz will share tangible ways on how to put ideas into practice. From simple strategies of stepping outside and sniffing peppermint or tuning your ears to hear a catbird meow to beginning to build small gardens or intentional spaces that engage youth in the world outside.
- Questions and answers
System Requirements
- Macromedia/Adobe Flash Player 6.0.79 or higher
Macromedia/Adobe Flash Player 7 or higher for Linux and Solaris - Internet Connection — Minimum bandwidth requirement is 56 kb/sec
- A sound card and speakers to hear audio broadcasts from other meeting participants
- (optional) A microphone to broadcast audio to oth
Event SummaryAt Your Doorstep: Creating Family Connections Outdoors |
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