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How Alaska Native youth are protecting the land for their future ancestors
Alaska Native youth are leading the fight to protect their homelands and traditions. Four young women — Jazmyn Lee Vent, Sophie Swope, Malia Towne and Mackenzie Englishoe — have dedicated their careers to protecting the environment and centering Indigenous knowledge in environmental issues, from climate advocacy to fishery sciences. Their efforts to defend caribou populations, safeguard salmon spawning tributaries and challenge harmful development projects honor their ancestors while ensuring that future generations can continue their way of life. “Our time here on this Earth is very short,” Swope said. “We were gifted all of the things that we have by our ancestors, and we’re only borrowing this space on earth from the future generations.” High Mountain News.
Read MoreCedar Rapids aims to make the outdoors 'part of the classroom' at local schools as a Nature Everywhere Community
The City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is ready to transform schoolyards into vibrant green spaces, increasing opportunities for local children to explore the natural world and engage in unstructured play. The city is a participant of the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, a joint partnership between the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities and KABOOM!. As a Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community, Cedar Rapids will receive a year of strategic planning and technical support, as well as start up funding. By greening schoolyards and developing climate-resilient infrastructure, the city aims to improve children’s development, mental and physical health, and access to nature. The Gazette.
Read MoreFrom iPads to playtime: How kids’ motor skills are changing
Australian educators are concerned about the impact of touchscreens and digital play on young children’s physical development. Experts warn that without sufficient hands-on play and physical interaction, foundational motor skills — like gripping pencils or buttoning clothes — will deteriorate, potentially affecting children’s independence and academic readiness. “Outdoor play is crucial, as natural environments challenge children to move in ways that build balance and strength,” reports Chloe Han, an early childhood teacher. “Creating opportunities for free movement and tactile play can help reverse the trend of declining motor skills.” The Educator Online.
Read MoreAlabama designates first-ever First Class Pre-K nature-based school
In Alabama, the “First Class Pre-K” designation signifies a state-funded, high-quality pre-kindergarten program. The Auburn University Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (KPNC) Woodland Wonders Nature Preschool recently became the first nature preschool in the state to receive the designation. “This milestone represents a significant advancement for both Alabama and the entire nature-based learning community,” said Michael Buckman, KPNC manager. “It is noteworthy that, nationwide, very few state-level education departments recognize or license nature-based schools at any grade level.” Woodland Wonders is now able to offer tuition-free education for enrolled students, thanks to a grant associated with the designation. Alabama News Center.
Read MoreChildren cannot roam free, says How to Train Your Dragon author
Cressida Cowell, author and illustrator of the bestselling “How to Train Your Dragon” series, credits her “gloriously wild” childhood in Scotland as an inspiration for her books. She believes that the freedom she and other children had in the 1970s to roam helped cultivate a respect for nature and sense of self-reliance. Now, Cowell worries that the modern-day approach to free outdoor play is impacting today’s children. “We’re distancing generations of children from nature, and [nature] has never been more important,” says Cowell. “How can you value something if you’re not out there in it?” The Telegraph.
Read MoreOutdoor education blooms due to state funding in Nevada
Over the past two years, the Nevada Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program has awarded $500,000 to 45 projects in Nevada, increasing opportunities for Nevada students to experience the outdoors. In addition to supporting a range of activities, from mountain biking to beekeeping, the grant-supported programs help expose youth to different career paths. Teacher Jaime Sammons, whose class was a recipient of the grant program, reflected on its effects: “It’s huge for so many reasons, just the monetary value of it, but on top of that, I tell the kids all the time, there’s people that are rooting for you that you haven’t even met.” KUNR.
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