Outdoor Education Commons^™

Young Children's Relationship With Nature, Randy White

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Almost 150 years ago, nineteenth century psychologist Herbert Spencer published his book, Principals of Psychology, in which he espoused the "surplus energy theory," explaining that the main reason for children's play is to get rid of surplus energy. Although researchers and developmental theorists have rejected his theory, it has had an unfortunate and lasting influence on the design of children's outdoor play environments (Malone, 2003). As a result of Spencer's theory, playgrounds are seen as areas for physical play during recess, where children 'burn off steam,' and not for the other domains of development or for learning. In child care …

Review Of Hands-On Nature: Information And Activities For Exploring The Environment With Children, Laura Carey

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

In reviewing the second edition of this excellent resource, I was first struck by the finely detailed, crisp drawings that amply illustrate each activity. I found myself leafing through the whole book just to see the illustrator’s treatment of twigs, caterpillars, seed dispersal and rotting logs, among many other topics. I couldn’t resist comparing it with the first edition, which came out in 1986. I was pleased to see that the original format and sections (adaptations, habitats, cycles, and designs of nature) were maintained with the addition of a new section of more than 50 pages on earth and sky, …

Wilderness And Spirituality, Harvey Locke

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

On November 19, 1998, Harvey Locke spoke to those in attendance at the 35th Anniversary Dinner for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. His keynote speech, reprinted below with his permission, addressed the need to reach a spiritual understanding of wilderness in the midst of the current environmental crisis. Seven years later, his words are pertinent to the present conversation on nature-deficit disorder.

An Interview With Richard Louv, Michael F. Shaughnessy

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Richard Louv has written a beautifully provocative book entitled Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Richard Louv believes that nature is an integral part of growing up, and that children need to be exposed to nature, the wilderness, trees, grass, the sky, and the beauty of the earth, forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and streams. In this interview, he discusses his book and his concerns.

Review Of Children And Nature, Josh Bochniak

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

There is no lack of resources, activities, books, or articles about children and nature. In fact, the amount of information available is overwhelming, Advocates for the importance of nature to children continue to declare the emotional, physical, intellectual, and moral developmental benefits of nature for children, but as Kahn and Kellert propose, “our scientific knowledge of the impact and significance of nature during varying stages of childhood is remarkably sparse.” In that statement lies the major thrust of this edition, Children and Nature. In twelve chapters by a variety of authors from a number of different fields of study, Kahn …

Practitioner's Corner: How To Be Alone, Joshua Bochniak

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The idea of solitude is no stranger to outdoor enthusiasts. Its virtues have been heralded for millennia. Clerics, monks, priests, and laity from numerous religions and cultural traditions have found value in solitude since the beginnings of recorded history. Modern Transcendentalists, most notably Thoreau and Emerson, praised solitude as a means to escape the swelling tide of civilization. Granted, most conscientious proponents of solitude also warn of its excess, but overwhelmingly, the idea of solitude is historically one that pulls at the inner yearnings of the human heart. How is it then that an afternoon’s observation on a university campus …

Review Of Places Of Power, Jennifer Bradley

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

It is not unusual to find children's books about nature, nor even about the responsibility people have towards the natural world; however, to find a picture book that convincingly explores this from the place of mutual communion and spiritual connection is indeed rare. In Places of Power, author Michael DeMunn draws from his Native American heritage to share his belief that within the natural world there are places of power that connect to places deep within each of us, places that are powerful because they are where the Creator speaks to us in a way that only we can understand.

Practitioner's Corner Strengthening Natural Senses, Michael Cohen

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

"Us is the united wholeness, wisdom and spirit of the natural world and our true inner nature. Acknowledgement of Us results in living more harmoniously with the living land, waters and life-spirit within and about us ... we enjoy peace with the whole of nature found in ourselves, others and the landscape."

A Case For The Place Of Music In The Outdoor Education Program - Part Ii, Marie Bernardy

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Part I of this article discussed the importance of music in education, the history of music in outdoor education, and briefly described the role of nature in music. This second part suggests a rationale for inclusion and considerations for implementation of music in the outdoor education program. Quotes from interviews with music educators and outdoor educators, cites from relevant literature and personal experience provide the basis for the suggestions. Educators' quotes remain anonymous, as the interviews were part of another study.

A Case For The Place Of Music In The Outdoor Education Program, Marie Bernardy

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Knowing this, music can become an indispensable part of outdoor education programs because music summons the basic connections that sustain human life: our fellow humans and the planet Earth. Recognizing nature as the point of origin for sounds in music is to truly touch the roots of music. Recognizing music as a form of communication for humans is to touch the roots of culture. Thus, we have a triad of influences among people, nature and music. This triad is worth exploring in outdoor education programs because of what it can teach participants about themselves and about their world.

Letting Nature Shape Childhood, Will Nixon

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

In recent years, some naturalists, teachers, psychologists, and others have grown concerned that children no longer play very much at all in nature, whether inside or outside of school. "American children's freedom for freewheeling play once took place in rural fields, and city streets, using equipment of their own making. Today, play is increasingly confined to back yards, basements, playrooms and bedrooms, and derives much of its content from video games, television dramas and Saturday morning cartoons," explains Brian Sutton Smith of the University of Pennsylvania in Richard Louv's book, Childhood's Future.

Healing Power Of Nature In Recovery, Cherie Carter

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

During In-patient Rehabilitation, a 30-60 day program, clients are provided with many outdoor experiences through activities in the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program. Trips to local parks and beaches, ropes courses, canoe and camping trips, and organized activity days planned in local parks all contribute opportunities for clients to develop a connection with nature. Client comments about outdoor experiences during and following treatment at Main Quest include positive remarks about stimulating senses that have been deadened through the use of drugs, rediscovering feelings of wonder, finding a balance that has been missing for a number of years or was never developed, …

Reviews, Susie Criswell, Curt Schatz

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section reviewed several books:

• Journey to the Heart of Nature by Joseph Cornell
• Campsite to Kitchen: Tastes and Traditions From America's Great Outdoors by The Outdoor Writers Association of America
• Backwoods Ethics: Environmental Issues for Hikers and Campers {2nd Ed) by Laura and Guy Waterman

The Scripture Of Maps, The Names Of Trees, Stephen Trimble

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

The first six years of life work their subtle power on us throughout our lives. We remember few specifics. But our bedrock emotional security - our trust- comes from this time. We spend our first years striving to develop what psychologists call "a sense of competence." This drive for mastery- of grasping, crawling, walking, talking, and play-leads to astonishingly rapid and broad learning.

Recent research has surprised us with how emphatically our behavior and personalities are hard-wired by genetics. We start with our general emotional outlook on the world fixed by the magical code of our genes. The bent of …