C&NN Natural Families Network

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Comment by Nkrumah Frazier on November 12, 2013 at 12:43pm

I just wanted to post a link to my most recent blog.... I hope you enjoy it.

You don't have to "Go" anywhere to enjoy nature!

http://fanclubdad.blogspot.com/2013/11/you-dont-have-to-go-anywhere...

Comment by Suz Lipman on September 17, 2013 at 8:14am

Please join our Natural Families Network Coordinator, Janice Swaisgood, and many others for a FREE webcast:

Educating Tomorrow's Environmental Stewards

Thurs., 9/19, 1pm ET

http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/educa...

sponsored by Alliance for Community Trees

Comment by Kari on June 25, 2013 at 9:22am

Hi all,

Forest Kids:
Why the Modern Classroom is Moving Outside
By Andrea Gordon
Forest schools have long flourished in Scandinavia, Germany and Britain. They are places where children learn through free play, movement and hands-on experience in nature. Now, Canada is exploring the benefits of outdoor learning. Sangster Elementary in Colwood, B.C., launched its joyous Nature Kindergarten last fall, and now outdoor preschools, kindergartens and primary programs are popping up throughout that province, as well as in Ontario and New Brunswick. Why? Because there’s mounting evidence that nature enhances children’s health, learning and confidence while cutting down on behavioural issues. In Forest Kids: Why the Modern Classroom is Moving Outside, Star journalist Andrea Gordon conveys outdoor learners’ engagement and sense of wonder, and probes the fascinating science of nature’s effects on the brain and body of people young and old. But she also explores whether it's just a passing novelty or has real staying power.

Read more about it here :

Forest Kids:
Why the Modern Classroom is Moving Outside
By Andrea Gordon
Forest schools have long flourished in Scandinavia, Germany and Britain. They are places where children learn through free play, movement and hands-on experience in nature. Now, Canada is exploring the benefits of outdoor learning. Sangster Elementary in Colwood, B.C., launched its joyous Nature Kindergarten last fall, and now outdoor preschools, kindergartens and primary programs are popping up throughout that province, as well as in Ontario and New Brunswick. Why? Because there’s mounting evidence that nature enhances children’s health, learning and confidence while cutting down on behavioural issues. In Forest Kids: Why the Modern Classroom is Moving Outside, Star journalist Andrea Gordon conveys outdoor learners’ engagement and sense of wonder, and probes the fascinating science of nature’s effects on the brain and body of people young and old. But she also explores whether it's just a passing novelty or has real staying power.

Read more about it here : http://www.stardispatches.com/single.php?id=37

Comment by Suz Lipman on February 12, 2013 at 11:26am

Congratulations Chip and Ashley Donahue and "Kids in the Valley, Adventuring" family nature club on 5 years of getting kids and families outside! Read their story here:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/kids_in_the_valley_cel...

Comment by Katie Kunze on December 14, 2012 at 8:59pm

I live in Michigan and still live with my parents. My dad is disabled with young onset Parkinson's disease and uses a wheelchair to get around. Does any one know of any accessible activities or parks in Michigan, specifically southeast Michigan? Thanks!

Comment by Suz Lipman on December 10, 2012 at 2:06pm

LAST DAY!

Are you in a family nature club? Please consider taking C&NN's brief survey. Take the survey by TODAY 12/10 to be entered to win a $100 REI gift card and other prizes.

Leaders survey is here: http://bit.ly/Sd9cdW 

Participants survey is here: http://bit.ly/RvQDDv

 

Thank you for taking a moment to help Family Nature Clubs and the children and nature movement. We appreciate it!

Comment by Suz Lipman on December 7, 2012 at 12:54pm

Hello Natural Families Network members!

Are you in a family nature club? Please consider taking C&NN's brief survey and helping us out. Take the survey by Dec. 10 to be entered to win a $100 REI gift card and other prizes.

Leaders survey is here: http://bit.ly/Sd9cdW 

Participants survey is here: http://bit.ly/RvQDDv

 

Thank you for taking a moment to help Family Nature Clubs and the children and nature movement.

Comment by Heather Kuhlken on November 27, 2012 at 12:29pm

Hi Meghan, I am one of the leaders presenting tonight and on Thursday. I just wanted to let you know that one of the things I am planning to talk about is roughly what you are suggesting that your group may move to.  I have a group of 20 families that are mostly friends and friends of friends (and a couple of families that found us on Facebook). I have everyone sign up in August for the year and collect a fee for the year per family ($200 per year per family averages out to $1 per person per outing including campouts, plus a backpack for each kid). The fee covers our expenses for the year (campsites, preserve entrance fees, etc.. - I am a volunteer). It is not high, but it is just enough that I think it helps encourage participation. If a family pays for an activity (or extracurricular), I think they are more likely to have higher attendance. That higher attendance, in addition to having a consistent group of families in and out of activities all year, has really built a strong sense of community. This is our 5th year of having our FNC structured this way and many of the families have been in the group for all 5 years, despite having middle schoolers now. I agree with Gayle that community building in the group encourages attendance and it also encourages help from other parents in the group. (I am thrilled that last month a parent in my group offered to manage meal planning on campouts now - something that was taking too much of my time, and another parent manages our group finances.) The more invested the parents are in the group, the more they will help you. The downside of how I run our group is that my reach is limited and I am not making access to nature free. Hopefully our blog will help with the reach by telling others in the area of cool outdoor activities to take their families to. As a leader and a parent of 3, I have enjoyed how our group is structured because that sense of community benefits my family as well as the other families in the group. It makes leading the group less frustrating because it is rare that no one shows up to an activity. I also try hard to get everyone to RSVP to each activity so that I know how many to expect. If only 5 people are coming, I usually move or cancel the activity.

Good luck to you and I hope you can join us on Thursday. 

-Heather

Comment by Gayle Bodge on November 27, 2012 at 10:03am

Hi Meghan,

I'm going to be in on tonight's webinar, so I don't think we'll have a chance to connect there, but I wanted to share my experiences with my nature group.

Growing up ME is just a year old and aside from monthly outings I've been focusing on building relationships with the parents (mostly moms) of the group through "Mom's Nights Out" and have really encouraged their participation in planning events and sharing resources through a group Facebook page. Input from participants is that this budding community, sense of belonging, and relationships/friendships really encourage participation because it gives families a chance to spend time with people they know (and like) and they feel more comfortable going to new places with familiar faces. And it takes some of the planning/organization work off my plate!

I hope our story may be helpful to you!

Gayle

Comment by Janice Swaisgood on November 27, 2012 at 9:49am

Hi Meghan!

I just found out that today's webinar is full, but there may still be room for Thursday's webinar (12noon ET). Any chance you can make that one?

If not, I'll read your question during the Q&A time and you can view the webinar when you have time -- it will be recorded.

Hope all is well (other than your concerns of course)!

Janice

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