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Summer Fun at a National Wildlife Refuge
Near You
Emerging research shows that children who
feel connected to nature have better physical,
mental and emotional health. And
sharing the outdoors together with
your campers can build strong bonds and
create lifelong memories.
National wildlife refuges are great places
to have an active summer. Every state
has at least one national wildlife refuge,
and there is a refuge within an hour’s
drive of most major cities.
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Green Facts . . . .
- Children with symptoms of Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
are better able to concentrate after
contact with nature (Taylor, A.F., Kuo,
F.E. & Sullivan, W.C. [2001]. Coping
with ADD: The surprising connection to
green play settings. Environment & Behavior,
33[1], 54-77.)
- Exposure to natural environments improves
children's cognitive development by improving
their awareness, reasoning and observational
skills (Pyle, Robert [2002]. Eden in
a Vacant Lot: Special Places, Species
and Kids in Community of Life. In: Children
and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural
and Evolutionary Investigations.
Kahn, P.H. and Kellert, S.R. [eds] Cambridge:
MIT Press.)
- Nature buffers the impact
of life stress on children and helps
them deal with adversity. The greater
the amount of nature exposure, the greater
the benefits (Wells, Nancy M. & Evans,
Gary W. [2003]. Nearby Nature: A Buffer
of Life Stress Among Rural Children. Environment
and Behavior, 35[3], 311-330.)
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