22 Sep Children in Nature Awards Recognize Leaders in Youth Engagement
Last night the Children in Nature Collaborative in Austin held its 4th annual Celebration of Children in Nature Awards Ceremony and Dinner. The event was hosted by Westcave Preserve and emceed by Evan Smith and celebrated the success of people and organizations working to connect children to nature.
The keynote speaker was Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP (formerly the Chief Medical Officer for the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department and then the Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services and now VP & Chief Medical Officer for BlueCross BlueShield of Texas. Sanchez emphasized the benefit education to public health. He cited that between the ages of 18-64 mortality rate of 600 per 100,000 for non high school graduates. For students who complete just one year of post-high school education that mortality rate drops to 200 per 100,000.
Studies have been piling up over the past few years on the importance of nature in our lives, a phenomenon referred to as Biophilia which refers to the connection that we have to nature. With increased urbanization, busy schedules for school and parents needing to work more (or constantly search for work) many children do not experience nature as much or in the same ways that people used to in the past. Without experiencing nature often enough many children have Nature Deficit Disorder. Exposing children to nature has many health benefits which include increased attention spans, creativity, lifespan, mental health and decreased cancer risk, stronger bones, better grades and social skills as well as better behavior and health. The aim of CINCA is to decrease nature deficit disorder in Austin's children and last night they were able to recognize others who are helping in this mission.
E. Lee Walker Award for Collaboration – El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission. The staff and volunteers of El Buen Samaritano have provided leadership to the regional Children and Nature movement from its inception – partnering with the Shield Ranch to create El Ranchito Nature Discovery Camp and Conservation Corp, an Outdoor Kids program on their campus, and supporting programs for kids and families that focus on healthier, happier and smarter kids. http://www.elbuen.org/
John F. Ahrns Award for Environmental Education – William Earley, 5th Grade Teacher, Laurel Mountain Elementary, Round Rock ISD. 5th Grade Teacher, William Early, has mobilized an army of parents, students and fellow teachers to transform a former dump, adjacent to the Laurel Mountain Elementary School in the Round Rock ISD, into a spectacular nature preserve. He then created curricula in multiple areas of study (natural science, math, language arts and more) so that all 5th grade students spend regular time outside in the preserve, learning first -hand about the natural world. http://209.184.141.5/
.P., Medical Director of Happy Living Healthy Living Program at Dell Children's Medical Center. Dr. Edwards has recognized the value in getting kids out into nature where they can have fun and adventure while moving their bodies and developing lifelong habits of healthy living in the sunshine and fresh air. She has also helped frame the “case” for getting kids outside from the pediatric practitioner’s perspective – adding relevance and urgency to this important issue.
Westcave Preserve Award for Enduring Dedication – Art Pasley – National Program Director, C.A.S.T. for Kids. For most of the children who participate in the C.A.S.T. for Kids fishing program, this is their very first time to experience the excitement of getting out onto the water, feeling the tug on the line, and catching a fish. Art Pasley began as the Southern Director of C.A.S.T and became the National Program Director in 2008. Art lives here in Texas where he oversees several “Fishing Kids” programs in Central Texas and beyond. http://www.castforkids.org/
The Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin (CINCA) is a private/public partnership dedicated to creating social change so that kids throughout Central Texas have easy and frequent connections to our natural world. CINCA is comprised of many organizations who together execute a strategic plan to inspire social change resulting in a significant increase in the amount of time children spend interacting with nature on a daily basis. Scientific research increasingly shows that kids with frequent access to the natural world are healthier, happier and smarter. CINCA delivers such amazing resources as NatureRocksAustin,http://www.naturerocksaustin.
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