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Ken Finch Male Omaha, NE United States: Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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Ken Finch's Groups

Local Grassroots Campaig…

28 members
Grassroots Campaign Coor…

18 members

Nature as Therapy

71 members
Early Childhood Nature R…

99 members

Place-based Education

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Ken Finch's Discussions

Eagle cam

If you haven't yet discovered the bald eagle nest cam in Decorah, IA, it's great: three eaglets and two attentive parents. Here's the link.…Continue

Started Apr 15, 2011

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Ken Finch's Page

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Ken Finch replied to Tamra Willis's discussion No Child Left Inside in the group C&NN Natural Teachers Network

"Thanks Tamra! "

Mar 25

Ken Finch replied to Herb Broda's discussion Please Define Green for Me! in the group C&NN Natural Teachers Network

"Herb -- I'm always astounded by how routinely "green schools" will feature healthy food, energy-efficient buildings, EE curricula, recycling, etc. (just as you do, above) -- yet make little or no mention of actual greenery in and…"

Mar 25

Ken Finch replied to Tamra Willis's discussion No Child Left Inside in the group C&NN Natural Teachers Network

"Hi Tamra, I love the Trail Rules sign! Is it your photo? Could I possibly use it in some of my talks about nature play? Ken Finch, Green Hearts INC"

Mar 21

Ken Finch commented on Scott D. Sampson's blog post In Defense of Wildness

"Nice piece, Scott. I see a growing need to distinguish between "wild" and "domestic" nature; many people seem to equate the two. Both have their value, but the former is the one that brings the greatest impacts to…"

Aug 31, 2012

Ken Finch posted a blog post

"Nurturing Nature Play: Ten Tips for Parents"

http://www.greenheartsinc.org/uploads/Nurturing_Nature_Play_--_Ten_Tips_for_Parents.pdfHope these tips from Green Hearts will be of value to CNN followers!See More

Aug 12, 2012

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Sylvia Busby replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"Ken, what a good point you make, and I especially appreciate the resources you've included at the end of your post. Thanks for the inspiration to continue to improve our kids' experience in our own yard, where they certainly do spend…"

Jul 2, 2012

Scott D. Sampson replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"Ken, this is truly an important statement. The notion of frequency gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to nature conection. Without abundant exposure to local nature, kids simply aren't going to make meaningful connections with the…"

Jun 30, 2012

Ron Swaisgood replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"Nail on the head, Ken. Great blog. I like to think of those less frequent activities, like the family nature club near and dear to my heart, as jump-starters for more frequent nature play. Once that spirit is kindled and the ritual established, the…"

Jun 29, 2012

Matthew H. E. M. Browning replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"Great post Ken. Having spent the last month in Sweden studying regularly-used nature playscapes like the type you're advocating, I've found that even here in nature-loving Scandinavia, parents are understanding and prioritizing the…"

Jun 28, 2012

Ken Schmaltz replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"A couple years ago I put a few big sandstone rocks in my flower bed to fill holes that my dog dug up, and inadvertently created a nature play area. Last week my seven-year-old announced he was going mining in the backyard. A couple minutes later I…"

Jun 28, 2012

Kari replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"Amen, We are all about getting kids and adults outside in close nature in the backyard and the close park. Living in the city I have created an wonderful Outdoor heaven for play, it also including all kinds of nature elements but also outdoor play…"

Jun 28, 2012

Suz Lipman replied to Ken Finch's discussion Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity in the group C&NN Natural Families Network

"I love this post! You touch on so many important points about creating rich environments for nature play and then getting kids out into them. I agree that removing the barriers to frequent and spontaneous outdoor play are vital, and that our culture…"

Jun 26, 2012

Ken Finch's discussion was featured

Nature Play as an Everyday Joy of Childhood? For Kids, Frequency Requires Proximity

Most of us who enjoyed nature play in our childhoods realize that it didn’t matter if we had a pristine patch of forest to play in or just a couple of vacant city lots. Either way, there were endless things to find, explore, capture, imagine, and play with. But what was important is that these places were right there, within our walking/running/biking distance. No car, no parent, and no schedule were needed to get outside and play in nature. The children and nature movement is fostering…See More

Jun 26, 2012

7 Comments

Ken Finch commented on Carmen Field's blog post Moving the Needle

"Just outstanding, Carmen! Congratulations!"

Jul 20, 2011

Carmen Field left a comment for Ken Finch

"I was on vacation for a month, so undoubtedly my package from you arrived in a timely manner and was in my mailbox for a while. When I'm out of the office on vacation, I'm REALLY out of the office and don't check in...even when I…"

Jul 2, 2011

Ken Finch left a comment for Ken Finch

"You're very welcome, Carmen; love what you do! (But the Post Office must be wallowing, too -- I sent those weeks ago. :-) )"

Jul 1, 2011

Profile Information

Title or Role: President and founder

Organization: Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood

Bio: Thirty-seven years of experience in environmental education, in many settings: nature centers, children's museums, residential EE centers, and as a Dad. Now focused on affective, play-based approaches to raising the next generation of conservationists -- rather than the cognitive methods that I was trained in. I love speaking, writing, teaching, consulting and philosophizing about nature-based play -- and Green Hearts facilitates all of these! My work is too often indoors, but my spirit comes alive outside. Favorite places: Lye Brook Wilderness Area, VT; Assateague Island National Seashore, MD; Boundary Waters Canoe Area, MN; the Sandhills region of Nebraska; the upper coast of Maine; and anywhere my two sons are enjoying nature with me.

Web site: http://www.greenheartsinc.org

Ken Finch's Photos

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Ken Finch's Blog

"Nurturing Nature Play: Ten Tips for Parents"

http://www.greenheartsinc.org/uploads/Nurturing_Nature_Play_--_Ten_Tips_for_Parents.pdf

Hope these tips from Green Hearts will be of value to CNN followers!

Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:18pm

Digging the Nature Bond

Sundays this beautiful are rare during Nebraska Septembers, so son Duncan and I seized the day to head out on a little road trip adventure. Our destination: Ashfall Fossil Beds, near the town of . . . well . . . near nothing, really. It’s in northeast Nebraska, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. But for lovers of ancient nature, it’s the epicenter of the midlands.…

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Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:19pm

Harmony

I know this road like the old friend it is; Kelley Stand it is called. It is a narrow dirt ribbon that twists and climbs into the Green Mountains of southern Vermont. Today it is in good shape; I’m cruising. But in springs long past I’ve driven it when the road strained to merge with the adjacent stream, and I needed the help of passersby to pull my hapless station wagon back onto dry ground. The locals don’t even try to keep this road open during the winter.

As a child, some magical… Continue

Posted on June 20, 2010 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Comment Wall (15 comments)

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At 8:50am on July 2, 2011, Carmen Field said…: I was on vacation for a month, so undoubtedly my package from you arrived in a timely manner and was in my mailbox for a while. When I'm out of the office on vacation, I'm REALLY out of the office and don't check in...even when I don't leave town :) Happy 4th of July, Ken!

At 9:12pm on July 1, 2011, Ken Finch said…: You're very welcome, Carmen; love what you do! (But the Post Office must be wallowing, too -- I sent those weeks ago. :-) )

At 8:52pm on July 1, 2011, Carmen Field said…: Thank you sooooo much for the new batch of stickers, Ken! I found them in my mailbox today and can't wait to share them with local wallowers :)

Yours in mud,

Carmen

At 9:59pm on May 24, 2011, Carmen Field said…: Howdie Ken,

Great to hear from you and so glad the Mud Games photos brought you smiles (you might like this one, too). Yes, I'd love more Got Mud? stickers...thank you so much! And I really like the idea of more stickers like those...Worm Worship especially. You could steal a saying from the John Deere t-shirt series, like Mud Magnet. Hmmmm...I'll let you know if I come up with any. I hope you can make the Gathering in CA this fall. There's no longer funding for me to travel at work, but I plan on paying my own way and going if invited. I hope you and the Green Hearts Institute are doing well :) Cheers, Carmen

At 11:54pm on May 23, 2011, Carmen Field said…: Howdie Ken!

I just wanted to thank you again for the Got Mud? stickers that you sent to me...I gave away the last of them at Saturday's 2nd annual Mud Games at The Wallow. Families loved them!!! I've posted pictures from this weekend's event on my page, if you'd like to see more muddy fun. Do you have a wallow yet in your town?

Cheers,

Carmen

At 10:45pm on September 30, 2010, Carmen Field said…: Hi Ken,
Here's my favorite wallow photo with your Got Mud? sticker from Saturday. I'll try to upload others on your page (into your photo album)...we'll see how that works.
Carmen

At 11:15am on September 18, 2010, Carmen Field said…: Thanks again, Ken. I'll send you Mud Games photos and try to get one with your sticker in there :)

At 11:25pm on September 17, 2010, Carmen Field said…: If you can send me some Got Mud? stickers, I'd love it...you can send them to:
Carmen Field
KBNERR
95 Sterling Hwy, Ste. 2
Homer, AK 99603

Thank you soooooo much, Ken!

Cheers,
Carmen

At 10:41pm on September 17, 2010, Carmen Field said…: Sounds like a deal to me! Can you spare 100 stickers? Or if that's too many, whatever you'd like to give us would be great. These will be the perfect things to give kids after we hose them down at the cleaning station post-mud play :)
Carmen

At 10:34pm on September 17, 2010, Carmen Field said…: Hi Ken,
You are welcome to use any of the photos I've posted for whatever purposes you need. I appreciate you asking and have no problem whatsoever with you using them. On another note, we're having another Mud Games at The Wallow on Nature Rocks Day next week and I was wondering if you might have some Have Mud? stickers that I could give to our participants...how might I get some of these from you?
All the best!
Cheers,
Carmen