How We Bond With Nature

Naturally

by Jim Parry

What’s the bottom line with all this KIDS and NATURE, “No
Child Left Inside” brouhaha? It is that children don’t spend
enough time in nature. That leads to problems:

  1. They exercise less,
    and so are at a health risk, and
  2. They know
    less about the natural world, care less about
    it, and so the environment is at risk.

Studies
show that kids spend more time indoors and that
obesity is increasing (pun intended?). Studies also show that natural
science knowledge is decreasing. While simplifying this topic is helpful
for understanding and focus, we must remember that this is a complex
issue. Obesity is complex. Test scores, statistics, and scientific studies
in general are complex. But the issue remains; this we know.

Let us
look for the root of the problem, and then work
toward a solution. I believe that the more time we spend indoors, the
more we deprive ourselves of the chance to form a relationship with
nature. We spend time with what we love, and we love what we spend time
with. Because camps have a major outdoor component, they can build this
love in children. Bonds with nature are deep, even genetic. So building
them should be pretty straightforward and simple. Still, since the bond
is broken, we must rebuild and strengthen it!

So why and how do we bond
with nature? I made a “Top Ten” list.
Each one is followed by examples, and then suggestions for camps.

  1. We are amazed through our senses and profoundly
    and personally affected. Clouds, stars, wildflowers,
    ripples in water, a shady forest glen; don’t
    those things move us? Let’s teach our counselors to stop and marvel
    at the beauty.
  2. We find peace, solitude, and consolation. Why do we
    take walks? Why do we sit outside and feel the
    breeze or watch the sun set? Nature is therapy; the outdoors is like
    soul food.
  3. If it is interesting; we revel in learning about it.
    Sometimes the simple curiosity about how the
    stream flows, the grass grows, or where the raccoon hides teaches
    us the most. Or it might be using a scanning electron microscope to
    probe the mysteries of molecular bonds. Young inquiring minds are
    shaped in the safe, nurturing camp environment. Could your campers
    learn from a few local trees or birds?
  4. Nature is where we are,
    it surrounds us, and it is our habitat; so we
    take responsibility and ownership of it. We love our home, and we
    love our camp. We might just love a certain tree or bench or view.
    Camp staff should demonstrate to campers how to take ownership in
    camp. We probably all say, “This is your
    camp, take care of it.” We should emphasize just our relationship
    with it, loving the land, the water, etc.
  5. We work in and with nature;
    it challenges us, and so we come to respect and
    love it. I remember walking on a certain trail late at night to do “bed check,” many
    years ago. I remember the roots and branches I learned to avoid in the
    dark, and the contours beneath my feet. I remember trails I cut, trees
    I planted, rocks I removed, and litter I picked up. We feel pride for
    the work we do; we know it well!
  6. We receive from nature, and so we
    learn to appreciate it. Nature is the ultimate
    provider. Our economy is based on our ecology. The Greek root, eke
    roughly translates to “home
    hearth.” Farms, gardens, quarries, wells, lumber land, and wild
    edibles. Campers should take part in this relationship; milk comes from
    more than a grocery.
  7. We play, find joy, freedom and space — and
    are refreshed. I certainly hope that every camp is able to provide some
    joy, freedom, and recreation! This one can’t be difficult! Can
    you make your recreation time a little more natural?
  8. Others inspire
    us about nature; we are touched. A few of my
    camp nature heroes are: Bruce, Dave, Bob, Mary, and John. I have some
    famous heroes too: Henry Thoreau, Loren Eiseley, Teddy Roosevelt,
    Edward Wilson, Stephen Gould, Jared Diamond, and others. The point
    is that people teach us things and inspire us; we are hard-wired to
    learn from each other.
  9. Nature provides meaning and acts as a metaphor
    for life and its lessons. A bundle of sticks
    is stronger than a single twig. Grass with deep and intertwined roots
    comes back stronger after a prairie fire. Bees must work together
    to make a working hive. There is a circle of life. Campers should
    see and touch these things.
  10. Nature provides mystery. It’s
    scary, thrilling, and fight or flight excitement! One night in our tent,
    we heard thunder get closer and closer; we were frightened and yet loved
    it. A camper heard an owl in the distance and rushed up to hold her
    counselor’s hand. A rustle in the bushes startled a group of
    boys. They talked about whether to chase it, and in the meantime,
    the skunk wandered off.

The next challenge is to examine our camp programs and
be deliberate in encouraging the above list.

Jim
Parry is the outdoor education director at Collin
County YMCA Adventure Camp in Anna, Texas. He can
be reached at JimP@YMCADALLAS.org.

Originally published in the 2009 July/August
issue of Camping Magazine.

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