Leave No Child Inside &

the Great Outdoor Weekend

Regional collaborations led by the Cincinnati Nature Center

• Leave No Child Inside of Greater Cincinnati is a collaboration of organizations, including the Cincinnati Observatory, and individuals educating the community that time spent in nature is essential for the physical, mental and emotional health of all children. This is done through:
  
• Promotion of nature organizations and their events
• Support of initiatives that enable children to play and learn in nature.
• Presentations and the distribution of materials, such as Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods"

Last Child in the Woods

In his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv reported a growing concern of parents, educators and physicians: Children aren't playing outside much anymore, not even in the back garden or the neighborhood park.

This change in our relationship with nature has profound implications for the mental, physical and spiritual health of future generations.

Not everyone accepts nature deficit as inevitable. Policy-makers in Connecticut, New Mexico, California and Washington state are pointing the way to a different future with recent programs and legislation encouraging outdoor time for school children. In the Greater Cincinnati region conservation & educational organizations are developing programs and initiatives to reconnect children with nature.

Since the book's publication, Louv and others have come to believe in the great potential for an international Leave No Child Inside movement focused on education, urban design, architecture, conservation, and many other disciplines.

September 29 & 30, 2007

Get Out during this fall weekend and experience a free sampling of the best nature activities in the Cincinnati Region.

The Great Outdoor Weekend was designed by a group of environmental education and outdoor recreation organizations to provide a diverse sampling of the best nature activities in Greater Cincinnati. Because of the generous financial and in-kind support of our sponsors and participating organizations, all programs are FREE and open to the public.

Look for event programs at outdoor goods stores, public libraries, and participating environmental education organizations.

WHAT CAN THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY CENTER DO FOR YOU?
The COC's Educational Outreach provides classes and programs designed for your specific needs as an educator. Whether it is a simple educational field trip, matching proficiency requirements, in-depth course work or teacher training. We have the personnel and resources to fulfill your goals. Set in a fully functional 19th century observatory, yet using the best modem tools of today, our instructors are experienced in engaging students of all ages.

Visit our Education page for additional information.