Resources
Research-based information on Wild Nature Play for parents, educators, and caregivers of youth
Must get gear for winter hiking: YakTrax
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What I am Currently Reading
"The Artist’s Field Guide to Yellowstone introduces readers to the wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem through the works of fifty of the region’s distinguished writers and artists. This robust anthology of eclectic artwork and inspiring storytelling offers an enlivened take on the traditional field guide and argues for the intrinsic value of this world-renowned ecosystem."
"In Hunt, Gather, Parent, Doucleff (author) sets out with her three-year-old daughter in tow to learn and practice parenting strategies from families in three of the world’s most venerable communities: Maya families in Mexico, Inuit families above the Arctic Circle, and Hadzabe families in Tanzania. She sees that these cultures don’t have the same problems with children that Western parents do. Most strikingly, parents build a relationship with young children that is vastly different from the one many Western parents develop—it’s built on cooperation instead of control, trust instead of fear, and personalized needs instead of standardized development milestones."
Articles
A thought leader in nature connection, David Sobel writes a critique of the hands-off philosophy that some many nature centers and open spaces have adapted. He states, "I believe that the imaginative, constructive practice of fort building actually fosters the sense of connectedness that land trusts want to cultivate in young people."
"At a time of increasing disconnectedness from nature, scientific interest in the potential health benefits of nature contact has grown. Research in recent decades has yielded substantial evidence, but large gaps remain in our understanding."
In a culture where gun violence is so prevalent, it is right to be concerned and observant about aggressive behavior in children. However guns, violence, and the use of weapons is present in children's lives through many mediums. The need for expression and processing of these inputs with a caring mentor is important. This article takes a look at some of the positives provided in "war play."
Books
Absolutely the best fiction book I have read about nature, the wisdom of trees, and how connected we all are. Captivating from front to back.
From the author of Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv brings a book that looks deeper at the human-animal connection. "Our Wild Calling explores these powerful and mysterious bonds and how they can transform our mental, physical, and spiritual lives, serve as an antidote to the growing epidemic of human loneliness, and help us tap into the empathy required to preserve life on Earth."
The Invention of Nature (book)
The Invention of Nature is a highly entertaining non-fiction account of the brilliant but utterly forgotten Alexander von Humboldt. His contributions to our understanding of the natural world are extraordinary.
I-Minds 2.0: How and why constant connectivity is rewiring out brains and what to do about it (book)
I-Minds has a balanced view on technology as a useful tool that requires a need to be considerate as to how we use its power. A big theme through the book is integration vs. interference. Dr. Swingle is an entertaining writer with a lot of experience in both education and brain development. She comes with interesting research mixed with practical solutions to the over consumption of imedia.
Videos
More to come
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Websites and Organizations
Learn | Connect | Act | Join the Movement to connect children to nature. This website has wonderful resources, articles, and tools to help get you and your children outside
White Pine Wilderness Academy (Indianapolis, IN)
WPWA is where I began my journey in primitive skills and nature as teacher. They are an excellent resources with both adult and youth programs. Don't live in the area? Check out their site for deep philosophy and methodology.
Submit a Resource
I love to receive new resources. If you have a book, article, video, or website you think I would enjoy, please share it so that I can also pass it along.