Saturday, October 14, 2006

Our Healthy Future

St. Paul, MN

I am currently at the 35th annual North American Association of Environmental Education Conference 'Gathering at the Headwaters'. www.naae.org NAAEE is the oldest and largest environmental education organization in North America. The Sierra Club is happy to be a sponsor and I find the annual conference a wonderful opportunity to meet all of the diverse professionals who are engaged in getting young people outdoors. At a speech I gave on Thursday I spoke about the Sierra Club's efforts with Building Bridges to the Outdoors and recieved some great feedback. A theme that I have noticed more this time is how environmental education is an opportunity to engage young people and get them living a more active lifestyle to help combat the growing obesity epidemic in children http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/prevention.shtml . The epidemic is growing but there is a new and emerging body of evidence that outdoor actvities are a key measure in helping get this growing threat under control. A study done by the outdoor recreation coalition shows the benefits of outdoor activities http://www.funoutdoors.com/files/Obesity%20and%20Physical%20Activity%20FINAL.pdf

Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods keeps getting more good press and this recent article in the Christian Science Monitor underlines the momentum that is growing.

I would also like to welcome a new member of the Building Bridges to the Outdoors Project team. Britt Glass has joined as our lead administrator. Britt is a University of Washington graduate and has experience as a mentor for at-risk elementary school children. We are happy to have her on board.

Cheers-Martin