About
Explore the Outdoors is an exciting, hands-on program that gives Ohioans the opportunity to reunite with nature, improve their physical and emotional health and discover the rewards of becoming environmental stewards.
The program, administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, provides Ohio parents, educators and youth leaders with lists of events and activities to have fun in the outdoors. Additionally, the program offers online resources for parents, teachers and youth leaders to help children discover the excitement and diversity of our natural world. A new Blog feature will also highlight exciting ways to Explore the Outdoors as well as new news about upcoming events or tools that you can use to explore.
Research has shown that children who are in touch with their natural environment are healthier, do better in school, have increased creativity and improved concentration.
This has sparked a national movement to reunite children with nature – making kids happier, healthier and smarter. Many individuals and organizations are joining this exciting and important movement, and Ohioans are leading the way. The Explore the Outdoors program is designed to ignite interest in the outdoors and for Ohio’s families and children to experience the benefits of being connected to their natural world. We hope you’ll join us in making this campaign a success and ensuring that our future generations understand and believe in the benefits of the great outdoors.
Nature Deficit Disorder
According to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, Nature Deficit Disorder is the result of children spending less time outdoors and losing their connection to the natural world. Louv attributes this to a wide range of developmental and behavioral problems in today’s children.
Causes
- Parental fear of “stranger danger”
- Restricted access to natural areas
- Increased time spent indoors
- Sixty percent of children age 2 to 5 do not have access to daily outdoor play
- Average child watches TV or plays computer games more than 7 hours per day
Effects
- Lack of stamina in America’s youth
- Slower muscle development
- Lower levels of Vitamin D
- Childhood obesity rate has tripled
- Increase in attention deficit disorder, depression and anxiety
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