The Last Child In the Woods

The question of the day comes from a woman speaking at the inauguration of the new Wildlife Center (1) at the Tualatin River Refuge (Oregon, USA)

"Who is going to be our next conservation heroes?" asks Kim Strassburg, the refuge's visitor services manager. "Our kids. And if our kids are losing touch with nature?

Who indeed?

Richard Louv author of Last Child In the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder attended the opening and signed copies of his book. You can view one of his lectures here.

Earthwise parents concerned that we are losing touch with nature may wish to check out Spiral Scouts.

Enjoy,

Sia

For those of you using a reader, the video I've posted at my blog is from the Netherlands, and it is titled Discovery of the last child in the woods.

Endnotes:

Tualatin River Refuge

was established as an urban refuge to provide wetland, riparian, and upland habitats for a variety of migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, fish, other resident wildlife, and for the enjoyment of people. The refuge is now home to nearly 200 species of birds, over 50 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles and amphibians, and a wide variety of insects, fish, and plants.

Habitats include remnant and restored communities along rivers and streams, emergent, shrub, and forested wetlands, riparian forests, oak and pine meadows and grasslands, and mixed deciduous/coniferous forests common to western Oregon prior to settlement.

These habitats are known primarily for their importance to salmon and steelhead, wintering Canada goose, pintail and mallard ducks, and for providing breeding habitat for songbirds.

Links:

Gaia's Guardians