Nature...Get Out There!! The Cure for Nature-Deficit Disorder?

Did you know...

...you are missing out on something and it is all our fault?

I am not going to sugar coat it....you were robbed!

The increase in technology has stolen something very important away from you!
While you are indoors playing video games or are plopped in front of the boob tube, many marvelous outdoor adventures are slipping by each and every day.

You won't have as much time when you get older and have a career.
You also won't be as agile and energetic, either.

Well, it is too late to blame anyone...we didn't realize, I swear!

But, it is not too late to fix it!

In actuality, you need nature as much as nature needs you!

Now, I am going to try to explain why this is and how we can make it all better.

Say What?

I will try to keep this as nontechnical as I can...but you might want a dictionary around, just in case.

Futurist, journalist, child advocate and author Richard Louv has recently coined the term, Nature-Deficit Disorder. He strongly suggests that the youth of today are becoming or have become detached from their УrootsФ or disconnected from nature.

Over the past 15-20 years, technology has created many pacifiers
for kids and teens, as well as adults. It is truly a shame that we have not really noticed the ramifications until now.

TodayТs world seems to be engulfed in the stressful, constant buzz of the man-made world.

I, for one, felt this stress and decided to move to the country for some peace and quiet. While this is not the decision I recommend, I do urge each of you to find a way to reconnect with nature.

You know, Louv may very well be onto something, in fact studies are already underway with expected results.

John Davis, Ph. D. conducted one such study that he titled, Psychological Benefits of Nature Experiences.

Here are just a few of the most important points extracted from the results:

There are three distinct levels of contact with nature
Direct contact Immediate contact with wild, undisturbed nature without other people or man-made interference.	Indirect contact This refers to parks or zoos, areas which are created by man to simulate natural habitats.	Vicarious contact nature presented via television, books, web sites, etc...
"Direct contact with nature leads to increased mental health and psychological development.Ф
Every psychological approach utilized reached the same conclusion. Contact with nature has a positive effect psychologically and otherwise.
People, instinctually, have a strong preference for the natural world.

So, what's in it for you?

Direct contact with nature...
reduces stress	sharpens the senses	hastens recovery from illness	improves self-esteem	enables one to have more positive relationships	positively sways morality	allows one to maintain a realistic perspective

To put it in a nutshell, we are one with nature, separating ourselves from it is beginning to have its negative effects.

While we are not certain what the exact causes are for depression, ADHD and childhood obesity, studies are beginning to show that contact with nature is a powerful form of therapy to treat these disorders.

Other than technology, here are some other possible reasons we have allowed you to become disconnected from nature
ХХХ Families, in general, are entirely over scheduled. This does not leave enough time for leisure activities.	ХХХ Fear, fear, way too much fear in the world and of the world. The gross exaggeration of crime is the responsibility of the media. I am not going to take the blame for this one. Maybe everyone should write their news stations asking them to report more happy news.	ХХХ Nature specific camps have gotten to be quite expensive, but you don't need an organized group to experience all that nature has to offer.
ХХХ Urban sprawl has caused natural areas within cities to literally disappear. Twenty years ago, all you had to do was walk down the block to find a patch of woods with a creek running through it. Today, if you want to see woods, you have to drive a few miles, at least.	ХХХ Parks and yards are overly manicured. This perfection does not attract wildlife and is more closely related to the man-made world than to nature.	ХХХ Many are afraid to even get their hands dirty...a little soap will disolve this excuse. I love working the earth for my flower gardens. I have been doing that as long as I can remember and so far, I have never Уcaught somethingФ from digging in the dirt. Really, it is OK to dig in!

Well, I donТt have a cure for Nature-Deficit Disorder, but I have decided to make a contribution to the solution.
I felt that a web site to assist you in discovering many great things to do was a place to start, at least.

I do hope you enjoy it!!

About this site...

This web site is divided into six pages (the first two you have seen, already)
There are four more pages, one for each of the seasons.

All of the seasons have common activities, but there are a few seasonally specific activities for you to find, too.
The best way to use this site is to look over each page, then come back to the current season.
Change the pages as the seasons change.

To avoid confusion... I should let you know which months I placed into each season
Spring March, April and May	Summer June, July and August (these are the months you are out of school)	Autumn September, October and November	Winter December, January and February (many seasonally unique activities listed)

Each page will list tons of activities for you to check out. I have linked external web sites to most of the listings for you to find instructions, ideas or further information. There is a hyper linked bullet to the left of each activity.

As I selected activities, I tried to keep you in mind, but many are for all ages. I tried to list widely diverse and as many activities as I could, but am always open for suggestions.
A Уsuggestion boxФ is provided on each seasonТs page for you to submit your ideas.

I would sincerely love to hear your thoughts!
As suggestions come in, or as I think of more activities, the pages will be updated...frequently, I expect. Keep it bookmarked so you can tap into it easily.

Click on a season, check out the activities, have fun and...

This site is an extension of:
Serendipity Acresй

The design, layout and research required to complete this project was produced by:

Х Х Х WebKat Х Х Х