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Celebration of Children in Nature
November 25 @ 6:36 am
WONDER AND JOY. IT'S OUR NATURE!
- The 2013 Celebration of Children in Nature Awards Event
- Four Seasons Hotel, Austin, Texas
- September 17, 2013
- 4:30PM VIP reception / 5:00 – 6:00PM registration / 6:00 – 9:00PM program followed by dinner on the shores of Lady Bird Lake
ABOUT THE EVENT
Celebration of Children in Nature
On September 17, 2013 the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center will host its sixth annual Children in Nature Awards Dinner in recognition of all those in the community focused on getting our local children out into nature. Evan Smith, editor of the Texas Tribune and former editor of Texas Monthly Magazine, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Westcave will announce four award winners chosen for their excellence in connecting children to nature. The proceeds from the Children in Nature Awards Dinner will go toward The Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin, a core program of the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center.
Read last year's event press coverage.
ABOUT WESTCAVE OUTDOOR DISCOVERY CENTER
At our core, we are advocates for protecting and taking pleasure in nature. Our preserve in southwest Travis County serves as an outdoor classroom for visitors to come explore, discover and appreciate our extraordinary natural surroundings. By doing so, we inspire a bond between individuals and nature. But we don’t stop there. We go further.
Our leadership of the Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin (CiNCA) ensures that from an early age, kids learn to feel comfortable in nature. That they have access to it and understand its importance. That they have fun outdoors. And that their connection to the natural world turns into an essential part of their daily lives, both as kids and later as adults.
Our partnership with El Ranchito summer camp continues our mission and serves as a shining example of connecting youth to nature. We believe wholeheartedly that frequent interactions with nature result in happier, healthier and smarter kids. Ours is a complete approach to advocacy, and it presents our complete commitment to nature and conservation for today and the future.
ABOUT THE CHILDREN IN NATURE COLLABORATIVE OF AUSTIN
Our leadership of the CiNCA was born out of concern for the growing disconnect between our children and their natural surroundings. A regional partnership among environmental educators, health professionals, and a broad base of community leaders, CiNCA is dedicated to nurturing a love of nature among children right here in Central Texas. Our programs and support for new green spaces greatly increase opportunities for kids to play and learn in nature. The benefits of doing so go far beyond developing future ambassadors for natural conservation. Through CiNCA’s programs and activities, we can help kids gain confidence, reduce stress and overall improve their wellbeing. We believe in the power of nature in improving health and quality of life for kids that explore, interact and feel confident in the natural environment.
AWARD CATEGORIES
The Children in Nature award winners represent the most innovative and successful initiatives to get kids out into nature more often here in Central Texas. Through their efforts, they are helping to reduce the symptoms of “nature deficit disorder” – a term coined by bestselling author Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods.
Learn more about last year's award winners on our videos page.