Come out July 16th and help build a nature-rich life for our children and community
Children and Nature Breakout Sessions:
Where People, Projects and Possibilities meet!

Calling concerned parents, nature enthusiasts, health professionals, environmental educators, and concerned community members looking for a place to share their talents.

Join us as we come together to build and nurture a nature-rich life for our children, families and community.

Following Richard Louv's 9:30 am presentation we will breakout into affinity groups focused on different ideas and projects in support of the children and nature movement.  

Attendees are encouraged to participate in or host groups. You can bring your ideas to the event or host groups around ideas that emerge out of Richard's presentation.  Not hosting? - instead join a group based on your interests and ability to contribute to that project/idea.

Bring your friends and colleagues!  By adding many voices and talents to the mix we expand the possibilities, increasing the likelihood of breakthroughs and successes!

Register here!

Host breakout sessions around:

    * New projects or programs that provide youth with outdoor experiences

    * Changes and expansions in existing projects or programs that provide youth            with outdoor experience

    * New projects or programs that benefit the area's children and nature movement

Breakout session hosts are encouraged to ask for what they need to move their project/idea forward including: volunteers, IT support, graphic design, event staff, fund raising advice, other resources and advice. 



On Saturday, July 16 a coalition of advocates for outdoor play and activities are hosting Children and Nature: Cultivating the Nature Rich Life, a regional event in two parts. Both events are free, open to the public and feature presentations with Richard Louv, an internationally recognized author and leader in the movement to reconnect people with nature.

Part One: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Exploring Our Options: Coming Together to Plan a Nature Rich Life
at Iroquois Park Amphitheater in Louisville
This program for parents, educators, healthcare providers, outdoor recreationists and other advocates for reconnecting people with nature features a presentation from Richard followed by breakout sessions focused on different ideas and projects that cultivate a nature rich life.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their ideas to the event or host breakouts around ideas that emerge out of the program. This event is free though advance registration is requested. Reservations are available at richardlouviroquois.eventbrite.com

Part Two: 7:00 p.m.
Children and Nature: Cultivating the Nature Rich Life
at Sunset Amphitheatre, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Bernheim is offering an entire evening of outdoor opportunities running from 5:00-11:00 p.m. including 5:00-8:30 pm Free Play at the Bernheim Children's Play Garden; 5:30-7:00 pm Music at the Sunset Amphitheater; 7:00-8:00 pm Richard Louv presentation; 8:00-8:30 pm Book sales and signing with Carmichaels Books; 6:00-9:00 pm Bernheim Naturalists will set up Nature Discovery Stations in and around the event site; 8:30-10:00 pm Louisville Astronomical Society and 8:30-10:00 pm Hiking around Lake Nevin. This event is also free though advance registration is requested.  Reservations are available at richardlouvbernheim.eventbrite.com



Richard Louv is an internationally acclaimed author and advocate for healthy connections to nature. He is a cofounder of the Children and Nature Network and a frequent media guest with recent appearances on NPR's Diane Rehm Show and CBS This Morning.

His landmark book Last Child in the Woods - Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder was a New York Times bestseller and has been translated and published in many languages.  It was one of the first books to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential to healthy childhood development. His just released book Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to the Nature-Rich Life is a complete prescription for connecting people with the power and joy of the natural world.


The coalition presenting these events include: Compassionate Louisville, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, ChooseWell Communities, Cultivating Connections, the Institute for Healthy Air, Water and Soil and Metro Parks and Recreation.

Joining us as cosponsors are the Bellarmine University School of Environmental Studies, Charter for Compassion, Farm to Fork Catering, Greater Louisville Sierra Club, Kentucky Association for Environmental Education, Louisville Nature Center, Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Waldorf School of Louisville and Wilderness Louisville, Inc.. Additional cosponsors are being invited on board and will be announced in the near future. 
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