Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 is a member of Chicago Wilderness, a collaborative regional conservation alliance that connects people and nature. More than 230 diverse member organizations work together on programs and scientific study to protect and restore natural areas. Chicago Wilderness members improve the quality of life for all living things by protecting the lands and waters on which we all depend. No Child Left Inside is a program that the Environmental Action Club has adopted to help Lincoln-Way kids and community members understand and enjoy nature more.
Social
changes have led to a generation of children disconnected from nature. The
lack of unstructured outdoor playtime for children may be linked to
childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder and poor social skills.
- Reasons for this include
the prevalence of TV, the Internet, video games and green space lost to
development, as well as parents’ concerns for their children’s safety.
- A growing body of
research indicates that time spent outdoors in nature is critical to
children’s physical, social and emotional development.
- Research also shows that
unstructured play in nature - child-centered, exploratory, imaginative
play - fosters creativity, emotional well-being, independent learning and
problem solving. And, it lets kids connect with the place in which they
live and the larger environment on which we all depend.
- Join Lincoln-Way Outdoor
Education and Chicago Wilderness and Leave No Child Inside! One of the
greatest gifts you can give your child is to share your love of nature.
Take children outside to skim stones, count butterflies or go fishing. You
don’t need to do anything besides get outside with them and look, listen,
touch and smell! Let your kids take the lead -- with their natural
curiosity, they will quickly find something for the family to explore.
Enjoying the outdoors with your children is fun, healthy and a great way
to spend quality time with your family. Visit www.KidsOutside.info for
ideas on where to go and what to do outside with your kids.
- Lincoln-Way Outdoor
Education and other Chicago Wilderness members are experts in connecting
children and adults to nature. With Leave No Child Inside, we want to foster
caring for nature in today’s children and future generations.
- Children need regular
time outdoors, so come back to Lincoln-Way Community Prairie often. There
is something new to experience every time you visit and explore!
