Nature Club for Families Leaders Unite!

[Chip Donahue]

During this, the summer of 2009, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with the Children and Nature Network to help connect existing Nature Clubs for Families leaders through social networking sites such as Facebook, Yahoo Groups, Flickr, Twitter, and through personal e-mails. Wonderful information was gathered from the participating groups and this information will be later used to show the fine efforts of families who are willing to step up to host nature club events within their communities.

At present time, there are 37 Nature Clubs for Families registered on the Children and Nature Network website. I connected with most all of them this some in one fashion or the other. Later in the summer, an e-mail was sent out to see if the leaders would participate in an informal survey regarding the background and reasoning behind starting a Nature Club for Families. The people who choose to start Nature Clubs for Families in their local communities are so very amazing people. I have learned so much from their excitement, their creativity and their incredible energy. The social networking websites will continue to allow NCFF leaders a place to publish updates from their particular group as well as catalog a website link to their own website. Here they can speak their mind and share their ideas, worries, and successes.

To find out more, check out the Nature Clubs for Families facebook page here.

This is a safety zone for Nature Clubs for Families leaders. You will find them swapping ideas and sharing nervous concerns. These people are changing the future, a few families at a time. Encourage them, support them, and wish them well.

[Chip Donahue]

Oh. So sorry to hear that! Wish her well for us. We really enjoyed getting to chat with her las year. Looking forward to next week. I hear some of the fellow NCFF leaders will be there!

[Richard Louv]

Thanks, Chip! So many things are moving quickly. You and Ashley are terrific leaders, and I'm looking forward to seeing you in Colorado. Unfortunately, Kathy won't be there. She is recuperating (slowly) from a broken collar bone.

[Chip Donahue]

Richard,

Thanks for the note. The numbers should be coming in soon through a survey which went out to all 35 clubs (at the time). We will hopefully be able to process some of that info next week. This has been such an encouragement. It really keeps Ashley and I going!

The groups are growing and the facebook page allows them to share joys and concerns. We are speaking in NH later this month and will also be leading two break out sessions using the toolkit to guide families through the creation of a Nature Club for Families!

Looking forward to seeing you, and your wonderful wife, next week!
Chip and Ashley

[Richard Louv]

Great post, Chip. Do we have a handle on how many members these groups have? I know that yours and the Inland Empire group have over 300 member families each.....