Updates, Images and Next Steps from
Children and Nature: Cultivating the Nature-Rich Life


Greetings,

Thank you for your interest in July 16th's Children and Nature events with author Richard Louv.

These events did much to raise awareness about, and expand the conversation around, this important work.  This is true for those who attended the events as well as all those exposed to the media we generated.  See the coverage from Jim Bruggers at the Courier Journal and Erica Peterson at WFPL.

We are committed to keeping the momentum moving forward and invite you to be a part of this ongoing work. We encourage you to stay engaged and to join our Nature-Rich Louisville  Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1747363485541858/).  This will be one of the best ways to stay in touch. 


Click above to watch an excerpt


During both his presentations Richard issued a challenge for us to become the most nature-rich city.  He encouraged us to set some goals, track our progress, celebrate our successes and then to be so bold as to declare ourselves "The Most Nature-Rich City."  He went so far as to say that should another city make the same claim we could engage in some mutually encouraging friendly competition!  We are accepting the challenge.

 

Our next steps will include:

    * Sharing videos from the July 16th event including one featuring the invitation to, and reports from, each individual breakout session and another featuring key points from Richard's presentation.  Already posted is kRi Magesty's poem In Times Like These (https://vimeo.com/175297510)

    * Providing ongoing support to each of the breakout session projects presented at the event.

    * Hosting a series of community conversations designed to move the work forward by exploring important questions, supporting ongoing projects and identifying mutually enhancing synergies.

    * Facilitating continued communication and collaboration across the various community sectors engaged in this movement including government, educators, heathcare providers, outdoor and nature recreation centers, etc.


The Children and Nature Breakout Sessions are:

* Children at Play Initiative - Hosted by Claude Stephens (Bernheim)
* Connecting Children with Nature through Wildlife - Hosted by Bridgette Williams (Founder of Second Chances Wildlife Center)
* ECO Engaging Children Outdoors - Hosted by Rebecca Minnick (Jefferson Memorial Forest)
* Family Nature Clubs - Hosted by Alan Goldstein (Interpretive Naturalist at Falls of the Ohio State Park)
* Finding the Sacred in Nature Along with Music and Healing in Nature - Hosted by Jim McGee (Kilgore Samaritan Counseling Center)
* Hands on Learning in Nature - Hosted by Elizabeth Keenan & CEO Jackie Ford (Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana)
* How to Influence the Schools with Their Knowledge and Experience of Connecting Children with Nature - Hosted by Stephen Bartlett (SAL: Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville)
* iChooseWellToo Program - Hosted by Marcos Morales (iChooseWellToo)
* Tools, Information & Education for Taking Groups Out to Fish - Hosted by Chad Miles (Host of Kentucky Field TV)

Together, we will become "The Most Nature-Rich City"!




And finally, one more time, thank you to all our presenting partners and sponsors!