Connecting Families with Nature, Year 1

To hire Sara St. Antoine as a consultant to develop educational content and resources for the Children & Nature Network, helping to connect children and families with nature and outdoor activities.  Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was organized "to encourage and support the people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature."  C&NN is responding to the widespread rapid decline of children spending time outdoors in unstructured play, a phenomenon which has resulted in an increasing disconnect between kids and the natural world, and is believed to be a major contributor to an epidemic of childhood obesity, diabetes, behavior disorders, depression and a diminished sense of place and community.  Sara is responsible for collecting and editing a comprehensive set of regional family activities, soliciting ideas for nature activities from people within C&NN’s active network of educators, families, child caregivers, and nature organizations.  Sara will use her expertise as a writer and editor to publish these activities on a parents’ website and for "toolkits" to be distributed around the country through C&NN's network.