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Nature is everywhere -- we just need to learn to see it

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How do you define “nature?” If we define it as that which is untouched by humans, then we won’t have any left, says environmental writer Emma Marris. She urges us to consider a new definition of nature -- one that includes not only pristine wilderness but also the untended patches of plants growing in urban spaces -- and encourages us to bring our children out to touch and tinker with it, so that one day they might love and protect it.

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Description

Would you like to help the children in your life to grow up with a deep connection to nature and the rhythms of life?

Sun, Moon, and Stars will show you how.

Juliet Batten guided her family and others for over two years through celebrating eight markers in the seasonal cycle. Her account, together with those of her contributors, results in a book that is inspiring and practical. By following the simple steps she outlines, you too can enjoy creating rituals to enhance the lives of your family and the young ones you care for.

You may choose the approach that fits your situation from the three possibilities outlined below:

1. Simple activities for beginners, especially families with preschoolers.

2. Deeper-level, earth-based rituals that bring in magic, wonder, and a sense of the sacred - for those who have become more adept at seasonal celebrations, and for school-aged children as well.

3. Community seasonal celebrations, for those who wish to reach out and include others.

What readers are saying about Sun, Moon, and Stars

'This book is delicious, generous, and fizzing with life. It presents a clear and inviting way of helping children and adults to connect with the earth, the cycle of the changing seasons and one another.'

- Sue Matthew, coach

'A pleasure to read and easy to follow. As I read the book, I could imagine it being enjoyed in many early childhood centres and particularly by Playcentre families and educators.'

- Susan Bailey

'A delicious and delightful book, often enlivening my senses (especially taste!). I loved that this is based on actual practice, making it very intimate, personal and imaginative.'

- Peta Joyce, MIndbody practitioner and mentor

'A beautifully written, practical book for children and families, whānau and communities, which will inspire a sense of wonder, joy and sacred connection to nature, to one another, and to our deepest selves.'

- Dr Kathryn Rountree, celebrant, Professor Emeritus, Anthropology and Ritual and Belief

' Sun, Moon, and Stars is told with a magical rhythm and rhyme, enveloping the rich warmth of rangimārie me te aroha (peace and love). Juliet captures the beautiful synchronicity between cultures in the minds of our tamariki.'

- Jill Williams, celebrant and educator

'Juliet's writing sings through the seasons, gently urging us to join her in celebrating the Southern Hemisphere festivals that have lain dormant in so many of us for too long. The information for each season is laid out simply, and the accompanying stories from parents and children are a delight. I sincerely hope this book will become a treasured resource in many schools, early childhood centres and families.

- Sharon Holt, author of Te Reo Singalong books

'Through your story-telling, worlds connected and unfolded before my very eyes. What a privilege to share in the knowledge and these stories. Thank you for blelssing the world with this collection'

- Challen Wilson, Director, The Sisters Consultancy

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Sun, Moon and Stars: seasonal celebrations for children and families, tamariki and whānau - Juliet Batten

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Ishtar Books, 2020 A guide to creating seasonal rituals for your young ones and growing earth connection in their lives. The book that parents, grandparents and educators have been waiting for! Stories to inspire Practical steps to show you how Conversations to delight

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Assessing the risks AND the benefits.

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Playgrounds have for decades been shaped by a zero risk mindset, with, any injury seen as a sign of failure. But things are changing, in what the New York Times recently called a "movement for freer, riskier play."

I am proud to be a part of this movement. And this article introduces a new report [pdf link] on play and risk that I have written for the Bernard van Leer Foundation, the influential early childhood NGO, as part of its agenda-setting Urban95 initiative.

Entitled Playing it Safe? A global white paper on risk, liability and children's play in public space, the report makes the case for a new approach, and calls for action by the key agencies involved in creating and maintaining play spaces, including city governments, NGOs, research institutions and safety and public health agencies.

Continue reading

Tagged accident prevention, Bernard van Leer Foundation, early childhood, early years, playground safety, public health, public policy, risk benefit assessment, risk management, standards

As a teacher or educator, the classroom is your domain. You are in charge. You set the rules and the learning goals. Your children are close at hand, and under a close watch.

Once you leave the classroom, things change. You have less control. Children have more space, literally and metaphorically. So there is a shift in responsibilities. And this can feel frightening.

So why would you consider taking learning outside? And why would you give any thought to what children learn through free play?

Continue reading

It is with an inward sigh that I share the news that once again, the US Standards body ASTM is considering a proposal to adopt stricter requirements for playground surfacing.

As regular readers will know, I have spoken out against this proposal several times. I was relieved to see its rejection last year, and can see no good reason for it to return. I urge anyone with influence within ASTM to take appropriate action (ballot no. F08 (16-06) for ASTM subcommittee F08.63 and main committee F08).

My long-time collaborator Bernard Spiegal posted a succinct piece last week on the topic. The Guardian editorial on cycle helmets he quotes makes a crucial point: there are rarely simple answers to questions about public risk. We have to talk about values, and we have to accept that humans are complex, contradictory creatures.

As Spiegal points out, risk benefit assessment is a tool that, while simple in form, recognises the complexity of judgements about risk. It is explicit about the need for clarity and consensus about values.

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By the way, if you are interested in cycle helmets - and cycling - you may like to download a report on cycling and children and young people I wrote for the National Children's Bureau in 2005. It includes a discussion of cycle helmet safety in which I tried to do justice to the complexity of this emotive issue.

How often do you hear that the 'health and safety culture' cannot be resisted? That fear of litigation makes people unwilling to accept the slightest possibility of accidents or injuries? The implication is that risk benefit assessment ( RBA) - the balanced approach to risk management that I and others have developed - is a waste of time.

My response - that RBA is making a difference, and that the legal benchmark is to be reasonable, not to eliminate all risk - is sometimes met with scepticism or cynicism. "That may be true in theory," the argument goes. "But in practice, as soon as a child is hurt and a claim comes in, the lawyers and the insurers just pay out, no matter what the merits of the case."

This is why I am pleased to share the news that the charity Hackney Play Association has successfully fought off a claim after a playground accident, and that RBA was crucial to the outcome. The details were released yesterday on the Play Safety Forum (PSF) website - see below.

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This post explores how the real-time decisions of educators, playworkers and other staff who oversee children fit into the overall risk management process, and how they are held to account for those decisions. I have written it at the suggestion of the UK Play Safety Forum. The PSF would welcome comments on the position set out here - as would I.

I will start with describing a real-life scenario from a Forest School session run by Bayonne Nursery a few years ago. (Those who have heard me talk on risk will recognise it from a video clip that I often show.) A group of four-year-old children are exploring an area of woodland. After clearing away fallen branches from around a large tree trunk that crosses over a dry ditch, three girls start to shimmy across. Two succeed, while the third becomes alarmed and gives up. Forest school-trained educators, present throughout, do not intervene at any point - not even to give encouragement or warnings. This is despite the fact that at points, things look like they might be getting challenging, uncomfortable or even slightly dangerous.

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Tagged Forest school, outdoor learning, Play Safety Forum, playwork, Risk, risk assessment, risk benefit assessment, risk management

A claim for compensation after a playground accident has been rejected in a precedent-setting legal case in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The civil claim was made against the municipality of Saanich, following an accident during a game of 'grounders' (a chase game played on and around fixed play equipment that my daughter and her London friends would know better as 'off-ground touch').

Continue reading

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risk benefit assessment - Rethinking Childhood

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Posts about risk benefit assessment written by Tim Gill

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It’s only in the great outdoors that children can learn crucial life lessons like resilience and respect, says scholar and child advocate Tim Gill.

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“A forest is much more than what you see,” says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery -- trees talk, often and over vast distances. Learn more about the harmonious yet complicated social lives of trees and prepare to see the natural world with new eyes.

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Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content.

By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our Privacy Policy

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Gever Tulley: Life lessons through tinkering

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Gever Tulley uses engaging photos and footage to demonstrate the valuable lessons kids learn at his Tinkering School. When given tools, materials and guidance, these young imaginations run wild and creative problem-solving takes over to build unique boats, bridges and even a roller coaster!

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A group of activities from Enviroschools Me in My Environment for tuning into the senses.

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One of the best ways to tune into the natural world is by spending time outdoors sitting in quiet awareness or by focusing in on a natural object, perhaps "seeing" it and its remarkable details for the first time with some effort.

A Sit Spot is a technique used at many forest and nature schools that allows a child to choose a place outdoors that appeals to them. They will visit that spot repeatedly to observe the natural world. It's important that the Sit Spot is one chosen by the child and that it is free of dangers (such as anthills, dangerous heights etc), relatively comfortable (this is the outdoors after all) and preferably shaded. As the child visits the same place in nature many times, they eventually develop a relationship with nature. They notice the changes in the surroundings in all types of weather, times of day, different seasons. The Sit Spot is an excellent place for reading, nature journaling, nature sketching or just contemplation.

Your child can sit in their Sit Spot for anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, depending on their age and comfort level outdoors. Many children today will have a difficult time sitting in one place for longer than a few minutes. That's normal and this is exactly why they need a Sit Spot! Have them start out by doing an activity in the Sit Spot and then gradually work up to longer periods of time and stretches of quiet contemplation.

Once your child has developed a comfort level with their Sit Spot, you can try out "Noticing the Details" writing. In this form of writing, the child's task is to take in as many details about an object in nature as possible, tuning in deeply into the characteristics of the object such as its shape, texture, smell, color and recording it in descriptive writing. This exercise helps children develop a descriptive writing technique as well as nature observation skills. Encourage your child to look deeply at the object, noticing details they might not have noticed before, or when they first selected the object. With extra effort, "Noticing the Details" writing will help your child develop more focus as well. Overall, it should be a refreshing experience for both of you to "see" a natural object, perhaps for the first time.

Noticing the Details Writing Prompt:

Describe in detail a specific object that you see in your immediate surroundings. Describe it thinking about the following questions: How big or small is it? What does it feel like? Is it sticky or smooth? Light or heavy? Whole or broken? What color is it? Where did it come from? What is surrounding it? What is it on top? Pine needles? Wood chips? Fallen leaves? If your object is a pinecone, acorn, or leaf that fell from a nearby tree describe the tree or trees. What does the tree look like? If it's a leaf, describe its veins and patterns.

Compare this object to other like objects. If you chose an acorn, pinecone, or flower, in what ways is it the same or different from other similar acorns, pinecones, or flowers? Is it bigger or smaller? A different color? More intact or broken?

Sketch your object, labeling the parts you noticed, shape, smell, texture, and other details.

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Sit Spots & Noticing the Details Writing

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A Sit Spot is a technique used at many forest and nature schools that allows a child to choose a place outdoors that appeals to them. They will visit that spot repeatedly to observe the natural world.

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Concepts, skills, and qualities taught: Fellowship, reflection When and where to play: Day and night / anywhere Number of people needed: For 3 or more people Suggested age range: Ages 10 and up...

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Unleashing creativity with natural resources

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Unleashing creativity with natural resources

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Unleashing creativity with natural resources

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Make a Ti Kōuka (Cabbage tree) leaf doll

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Make a Ti Kōuka (Cabbage tree) leaf doll

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How to make a Ti Kōuka (Cabbage tree) leaf basket

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How to make a Ti Kōuka (Cabbage tree) leaf basket

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How To Make a Ti kōuka (Cabbage) Leaf Basket

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How to make a boat and weaving frame - Celia Hogan, Little Kiwis Nature Play

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How to make a boat and weaving frame - Celia Hogan, Little Kiwis Nature Play

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How to Make a Boat and Weaving Frame from Natural Materials

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Nature Connectors are a collection of simple ideas and activities for nature connection in your local green space, backyard, or school. Our vision is to have a one-stop-shop of free, easy to use, ideas to pick up and run with.

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Kids Greening Taupō | Learning Through Nature

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Our Nature Connectors are a collection of simple ideas and activities for nature connection in your local green space, backyard, or school. Our vision is to have a one-stop-shop of free, easy to use, ideas for New Zealanders to pick up and run with. We have shared simple activities, and then added ideas for extending each one, or adapting it, for use with different ages and in different environments. We have also added supporting resources that are appropriate to use with children. Pick up these Nature Connectors for some inspiration and unleash your curiosity!

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Nature Connectors - Kids Greening Taupō | Learning Through Nature

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Our Nature Connectors are a collection of simple ideas and activities for nature connection in your local green space, backyard, or school. Our vision is to have a one-stop-shop of free, easy to use, ideas for New Zealanders to pick up and run with.

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Te Waonui a Tāne - the great forest of Tāne

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Te Waonui a Tāne - the great forest of Tāne

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Joseph Cornell - Sharing Nature with Children activities

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Joseph Cornell - Sharing Nature with Children activities

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In the early 19070's as Joseph Cornell studied to be an outdoor educator, he discovered how play energizes and enlivens people's experience of nature. When he led people on nature walks he wanted people to be totally engaged. He found that playful games would capture people's attention and make learning multidimensional and fun. No longer were participants passively observing the environment with just their intellect; with play, their whole being became involved. Because participants were utilizing all of the faculties of perception and knowing, both children and adults came alive, and nature came alive for them.

In 1979, Joseph published these activities in Sharing Nature with children, which pioneered and popularized internationally the use of nature activities. Parents and educators across the globe were wildly enthusiastic about these games, because, as National Audubon's Vice President of Education, Duryea Morton, wrote, " by using these activities children actually experience what it is like to be a part of the natural world."

​Because Sharing Nature activities are captivating and engage us directly with nature, players of all ages can happily enjoy the games together. After a family nature program in San Francisco, the parents of five-year-old Lily told the leader that their shy and hesitant daughter was uncomfortable with new situations. "When we encourage Lily to try new experiences, she usually hangs back. But while we were playing the Sharing Nature games, we were surprised and delighted to find Lily leading us."
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The following activities are arranged by their Flow Learning™ stage. To help you easily find the best game for your group, each one has a Quick-Reference Box that tells you:

Concepts, skills, and qualities taught

When and where to play

Number of people needed

Suggested age range

Materials needed

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In the early 19070's as Joseph Cornell studied to be an outdoor educator, he discovered how play energizes and enlivens people's experience of nature. When he led people on nature walks he wanted people to be totally engaged. He found that playful games would capture people's attention and make learning multidimensional and fun.

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The Wild Network is a unique and diverse community of people. Together we are working to grow Wild Time.

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The Nature Education Network presents a nature education conference in the outdoors.

Empowering you to bring the wonder and joy of nature to young children.
Imagine spending an entire weekend listening to world leaders and inspirational speakers. All the while connecting yourself to the beauty that surrounds you.

Join a growing worldwide movement of educators, parents, playscape designers, academics and policy makers who believe nature is a powerful teacher and experiencing risk is its ally.

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Nature Education Network, The Natural Phenomena Conference - Home

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Nature Education Network: Home of "The Natural Phenomena" Conference. The first and only "Nature Education" Conference to be held outdoors in New Zealand.

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Many ECE and school teachers, managers and principals want to confidently take the children in their care outdoors. But they're not sure where to start. And they need to make sure everyone's on the same page to successfully bring nature into their teaching environment.

At Little Kiwis Nature Play, we run nature-based education professional training and workshops, online courses and teacher only days - specific to your ECE centre or school.

That inspire and motivate teachers and parents to confidently take children outdoors to nature instead of being stuck inside wondering where to begin.

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We help ECE centres to get children outdoors and into nature. With practical support, system development & professional development for start up bush kindys

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We have updated the EOTC Guidelines - Bringing the Curriculum Alive to align with:

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014; and

The Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016

The primary purpose of these guidelines is to support teaching and learning of the national curriculum. The guidelines may also be applied more broadly as a good-practice guide for other activities that schools are associated with.

This kete supports safe and effective curriculum-based teaching and learning that extends beyond the classroom walls. The tool kits contain a selection of sample forms and templates that reflect the current good practices and procedures for EOTC safety. The tool is intended to assist you to refine your systems for EOTC management and meet your legal requirements and good practice responsibilities.

NB: Please note the guidelines are available online only. Hard copies were not printed because outdoor education best practices tend to change relatively frequently and presenting the guidelines as an online resource will allow real-time updates to be done as required.

EOTC Guidelines: Bringing the Curriculum Alive

EOTC Learning Modules: From planning to delivery

Version control table

(Last updated 5 June 2018)

Appendices
Appendix 4 Tool Kit for EOTC Management Appendix 6 - He Rauemi Āwhina - Ngā puka pūnaha haumaru Return to top

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We have updated the EOTC Guidelines - Bringing the Curriculum Alive to align with: The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 The Vulnerable Children Act 2014; and The Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016 The primary purpose of these guidelines is to support teaching and learning of the national curriculum.

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Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars, that rises in midwinter and for many Māori, heralds the start of the new year.

The return of the cluster is commemorated by Te Rā Aro ki Matariki 2023, which happens on Friday, July 14, this year. Early in the morning, just before dawn, is the optimum time to view the Matariki cluster.

If you'd like to get involved take a look at the resources below.

Social Media

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the latest content - @manawatiaamatariki

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Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future. Mānawatia a Matariki.

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Games

The social tools handed down by our tūpuna

HARKO BROWN WITH RACHEL BOLSTAD

Harko Brown is an expert on traditional Māori games and play. He has written several books including Ngā Taonga Tākaro II: The Matrix (2016), and Te Mara Hupara (2017), co-authored by his teenage daughter Yves Tennessee Brown. In 2015 Harko was co-opted by the New Zealand Government to organise and lead the first Aotearoa New Zealand Māori delegation to the World Indigenous Games in Palmas, Brazil. Harko believes that if the educational and environmental propositions of ancestrally derived games were embraced by educators, social institutes and even incorporated into town planning, we would have a much more peaceful, loving and harmonious society. Harko responded to Set 's questions about his research and why he is so committed to the revitalisation and continuity of aro-tākaro.

What are tākaro and māra hupara?

To my mind tākaro are a life force. People have talked to me about them, using terms such as "whenua" and "kai". They are games and protocols, but they were and are also spiritual, social, and educational tools, and that is how they were utilised.

I think the term hupara (Brown, 2016) refers to places built or selected for physical play, learning, and exercise, but more than this, they are spiritual, physical and social nodes. Commonly made out of rākau that are permanently dug, stacked, or hung in place, they are designated as hupara and thereupon take on special relationships and qualities in aid of tribal resilience. Traditionally these implements for play were numerous, but widely spread. Today, hupara can be purposefully gathered together in māra hupara (hupara gardens) giving a choice of activities and ways to interact, play, exercise, and learn.

Could you give an example of a tākaro that illustrates their multidimensional qualities?

Take for example the game of pipi, where players form a circle and throw a marker, called a pipi, into a central kete. What could be much simpler than sitting 5-10 metres from a kete and throwing an object into it? But the object thrown had to be of a type that would flutter through the air, such as a pipi shell, or a wood chip, requiring a skilful wrist-flicking throw. We played this as youngsters on the marae with flattened bottle tops and wood chips. One year an uncle visited and set up a kōhanga (nest) for a kete on an elevated central pou and told us the rules for tūperepere, his preference for the game name, which they played when he was young. He instructed us with kota (pipi shells), and taught several rules for the taking out of other players' kota from the kōhanga. He asserted that this game connected with our ngahere and our particular whakapapa bonds. This forest-sea connection was explained to me in detail when I communicated with Dr Ihirangi Heke, who shared whakapapa which linked pīpīwharauroa to Tānetehokahoka-the atua of birdlife. The link continued to his whanaunga, Te Awarua, the personification of pipi. The parents entrusted Hineahuone, the sand, with the safe keeping of pipi. These links remind us of the interconnections between all life forms, and the need to treasure our environment. From the kōrero of beloved elders we were encouraged to care for our traditional games, to nurture and sustain them. We came to realise that the plants and trees which we used to make aro-tākaro needed to be kept healthy, which is only possible in healthy environments. There are so many layers of meaning and significance in this one tākaro, and many variations from tribe to tribe-Māori thrived on diversity, and differences emerged from their environmental habitats, which were never exactly alike from tribe to tribe.

How did you become interested Māori games, and how have you researched them?

I look back and see how lucky we were to have whānau who treasured our taonga tākaro. This is at my principal marae Whakaaratamaiti and two main sister marae Ngātira and Mangakaretu. But there were also several other marae where we would be indulged in traditional games. Those elders put that everlasting love in me to continue to awhi them into our lives. They helped our ancestors and were amazing social tools. Perhaps if we respect and nurture them we will benefit and have a more peaceful world. To me they represent the realm of Rongo. Of peace and love. Since I was very young at hui or tangi with my father or koroua, elders would come and sit by me and just talk about our tākaro. I showed an interest and a passion. My mother, who is Dutch, loved Māori culture too and thought the games were a wonderful cultural phenomenon.

What challenges have you encountered in researching traditional games?

I think because written information is quite scarce it has meant I've needed to do a lot of talking and listening, and travelling to keep up the momentum, both for researching and revitalising tākaro. I try to capture the views and opinions of so many other informed people on the kaupapa. It's all voluntary, including the researching and support of our indigenous friends overseas to promote our tākaro to keep them alive and relevant. It's more than the games, it's about all things associated with them and how their relationships are intermingled into the fabric of Māori culture. This kaupapa is very much a learning curve where quite a few of us meet up, network and discuss or share what we have researched or read about. It seems that "games" were a part of every apect of ancient life. The music, protocols, hunting and fishing, sailing, tangi, love, sorrow, and other areas of life seem to merge into a matrix of games-very much a breathing entity all around us, melded/part of ngā atua. Probably today, I feel, they are wholly undervalued and utilised by our people and general society. I suppose its about finding the right key to make them relevant to people. I've met some wonderful people on this journey and had humbling joyful experiences. I am always grateful and honoured when asked to present or workshop these treasures. I just want to revel in them, be immersed in their beauty and excitement and to show them off for the entities that they are.

Why do you think it is important to integrate tākaro and māra hupara in schools and kura?

To me they are mauri-laden. They support and empower thoughts of love and peace and 'health'. I think historically we were onto something very important, a vestige which for perhaps a century or two had ultimate peace as a way of life. The Moriori had it sussed, and I am currently learning more about their practices. The practice of hohou rongo had it sussed, games were peace-laden mechanisms utilised with skill and nous. It would be great to assist to make our world a better place through reintegrating tākaro and hupara in our everyday lives.

What is one thing you want New Zealand educators to know about tākaro?

That their propositions are limitless for the health and wellbeing of our society.

What are teachers and students saying about tākaro in schools and kura?

The games, activities, and aro-tākaro are varied, which sparks interest in kids and their teachers, and purposeful layering is occurring whereby the rituals, protocols, and practices are being melded together to give a more complete and beneficial "education" around them. What is probably lacking are a multitude of resources to help teachers understand and utilise all the possibilities of tākaro and hupara.

In your view how are tākaro similar or different to games and sports in Western cultures, and other cultures?

I think there are strong similarities worldwide and that is the beauty of indigenous games, you can connect and mutually understand their wairua. For example if you read up on an ancient hupara called a moari, you can appreciate how important that artefact was to our ancestors. So important that whole regions would be named after them, such as Te Moari and Te Hupara rohe in Far North. They were games equipment, but as with so many aro-tākaro, they doubled up as psychological enablers, giving a cathartic means to release pent-up anger or frustration, among other useful purposes-I've discussed this use elsewhere. For example, a hapū might spend several days using the moari to swing on whilst creating songs to lament their dead in battle and to overcome their inability to seek redress. It was a way to accomplish utu, to clean the slate and start over positively. I think the maypole and moari have had similar purposes for their communities, but our ancestors seemed to have had a bit more connection to them and spiritual reverence.

What interesting things have you learnt about games and play from other indigenous peoples?

That universally games seem to have morphed out of the whenua and forests to fit the psyche and mauri of the indigenous people who live there-it's like a mirror image, you feel it. The smiles, laughter, and connectedness of game play is also a beautiful attribute.

What are you working on currently in your research?

I am collating into book form a few of the protocols (and their skilful practitioners' traits) which accompanied games, or were games, and which seductively transitioned people into the realm of Rongo, of peace love, fun, laughter, warmth, memory-making and learning and kept them there! It seems to have been a very clever and beneficial profession.

To my mind the realm of games has had input from birds and animals, from the moon and sun, from winds and ngā atua Māori ... a real family affair!

Glossary

Aro-tākaro: Game implements, the "face" of game play

Hohou rongo: Hohou rongo describes the practice of peacemaking, striving to make a tribe resilient and long lived.

Moari: Huge pole-swings built over land or water, used for games and competitions, as well as rites for warriors returning from battle. Moari could provide a psychological bedrock for a hapū, and even be used to find rebirth from the ashes of calamity, defeat, and hardship.

Putiki: An ancient term for two or three pou grouped together which served as supports for women while giving birth. They were extremely sacred pou when in use, and later children born by them would often play on them.

Reference

Brown, H. (2016). Ngā taonga takaro II: The matrix. Tauranga: Penz.

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Games: The social tools handed down by our tūpuna

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Games The social tools handed down by our tūpuna HARKO BROWN WITH RACHEL BOLSTAD Harko Brown is an expert on traditional Māori games and play. He has written several books including Ngā Taonga Tākaro II: The Matrix (2016), and Te Mara Hupara (2017), co-authored by his teenage daughter Yves Tennessee Brown.

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Conservation Week 2022 focuses on how we can take action for nature.

Taking action not only benefits nature, but also our personal wellbeing. Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata - when the land is well, the people are well. When Papatūānuku thrives, we thrive.

Find out how to take action below, or download digital content and event resources.

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Conservation Week/Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa

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Conservation Week 2022 focuses on how we can take action for nature. Taking action not only benefits nature, but also our personal wellbeing. Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata - when the land is well, the people are well. When Papatūānuku thrives, we thrive.

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Outdoor Classroom Day is a day to celebrate and inspire learning and play outside the classroom, and we want YOU to get involved!

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Connections between Kaupapa Māori, outdoor play, and children's wellbeing 

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Connections between Kaupapa Māori, outdoor play, and children's wellbeing 

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Phrase book of the environment

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Become familiar with Māori words and phrases you can use while you are out enjoying te taiao, the unique environment of Aotearoa.

Te reo Māori, like so many of our other taonga in Aotearoa, is threatened. But, like the environment, with collective understanding, care and action the language will thrive.

This booklet was developed in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Education to provide information about the natural world.

Last updated: February 2022
First released: September 2018

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Kia Kaha te Reo Taiao - Te Rangaihi Reo Māori

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Become familiar with Māori words and phrases you can use while you are out enjoying te taiao, the unique environment of Aotearoa. Te reo Māori, like so many of our other taonga in Aotearoa, is threatened. But, like the environment, with collective understanding, care and action the language will thrive.

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The world is a family

Māori people traditionally believed that in nature everything was linked together. Birds, fish, people, even the wind and sun, were all part of a big family.

The gods and their families

In the Māori story of creation, the world began when the earth mother, Papatūānuku, and sky father, Ranginui, came together to produce 70 children. The children separated their parents, pushing Rangi up and letting in the light.

Each child became a god of some part of nature, such as the forest or the wind. Then they had children of their own. For example Tangaroa, god of the sea, produced all the fish. And so the family of nature, including humans, came into being.

Whakapapa

Experts with special knowledge would recite whakapapa (stories, genealogies). They listed the ancestors of humans, animals, trees and other things in the natural world.

These storytellers would also explain things in nature, such as why the New Zealand pigeon has colourful feathers. In this way, they passed knowledge down the generations.

Tangata whenua – people of the land

Often when Māori identify themselves they talk of the mountains, lakes or rivers that are important to their tribe. The Ngāi Tūhoe people believe their ancestor was the mist that covers the Urewera mountains.

Light and dark

Day and night were called Te Ao (light) and Te Pō (darkness). Māori linked light with peace and understanding, and darkness with conflict and confusion. The rising and setting of the sun also symbolised the cycle of birth and death.

Te Kore

Beyond light and dark lies the mysterious world of Te Kore. Some people experience this spiritual place in their everyday life. They feel the presence of a higher power or supreme being.

Mana, mauri and tapu

Mana is a spiritual power which comes to certain people and objects. The most important mana comes from Te Kore.

Mauri is the energy inside all things, and mana flows through it. Mauri stones were placed in a fishing net to attract fish.

Tapu means sacred. People or things that are tapu can bring mana. There are many rules to protect tapu. For instance, some priests were not allowed to handle food as it could remove their tapu.

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New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga

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The natural world forms a cosmic family, in the traditional Māori view. The weather, birds, fish and trees, sun and moon are related to each other, and to the people of the land.

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Science Learning Hub

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In this activity, students learn about rongoā Māori (medicines that are produced from native plants in New Zealand) through a silent card game.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

explain what rongoā Māori is

name some native plants in New Zealand that are used for rongoā Māori

name some medical problems that native plants can be used for

name some medical uses for some of the native plants.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

introduction/background notes

what you need

what to do.

Related content

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In this activity, students learn about rongoā Māori (medicines that are produced from native plants in New Zealand) through a silent card game.

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The benefits of teaching and learning in nature

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The benefits of teaching and learning in nature

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The benefits of teaching and learning in nature

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The autumn harvest - native berries and the rongoā journey

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The autumn harvest - native berries and the rongoā journey

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When we think of berries we think of the delicious summer varieties - raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and more. But Aotearoa has an abundance of native autumn berries, if you know where to look.
For some of us our childhood memories of berries might range from picking wild blackberries on our way to school or trekking to the far end of the paddock with preserving pan in hand to harvest them for jam making, to picking-your-own strawberries at season end in the local market gardens or a single Chinese gooseberry vine (now called kiwifruit) growing over the back fence. For many of us, autumn is a special time as we impatiently wait for the berries to ripen, judging just the right time to pick them before the birds beat us to our long-awaited bounty.

The ngahere held the same wonder for our tūpuna as children. Berries were an important part of their diet. Māori often experienced very lean times during winter when food was scarce, but as always Papatūānuku would provide in the form of autumn berries. Larger berries such as tawa, karaka, taraire and hinau were good sources of carbohydrates that could be dried and stored for use during these lean times. The smaller, brightly-coloured berries of the mingimingi, totara, kahikatea and karamu were a tasty treat and equally as important as a good source of pre-winter antioxidants to help ward off or minimise the effects of winter ailments in our damp climate.

The key of course is being able to correctly identify which berries are edible and which are not. Some berries such as karaka berry kernels need special preparation to remove the toxin in them before they can be safely eaten. Other berries such as poroporo (Solanum laciniatum, S. aviculare and S. nigrum) can also be toxic when they are green and should only be eaten when fully ripe - that is, when the birds eat them. I grew up being told 'don't eat the berries off that deadly nightshade, they are poison'. Which of course would be true if poroporo was in fact deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). What many in New Zealand have come to know as 'deadly nightshade' is actually black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) whose berries are perfectly edible when black unless you have an allergy to foods from the Solanum family (which includes potatoes and tomatoes). Another story I was told was not to eat the bright purple berries of the turutu (Dianella nigra) as they are poisonous. This may be true for the unripe berries, but ripe they are quite tasty and I have suffered no ill effects so far.

However, the most important lesson I was taught very early in life was this: Do not eat any berry unless you know for sure what it is and that it is safe to eat!

Having scared you off from willy nilly sampling every brightly coloured berry you find in the bush to see if its toxic, I encourage you to learn about our native berries. Encouraging children to 'experience' the ngahere through these tasty morsels will help bring us back to nature, teach them (and remind us) about the importance of cycles in life and to value the blessings shared with us by Papatūānuku and her whānau. Hopefully time spent with our young ones in the bush now will reinvigorate a strong nature connection in them in the future, give them a legacy of magical childhood memories to share with their children and more importantly a desire to protect and preserve the ngahere and her precious taonga for the future. We have much to learn about life through observing and experiencing nature.

Despite all the worldly riches associated with modern living we are so much the poorer without the precious and priceless experiences of nature so easily instilled in us as children through the simple act of seeking out, correctly identifying and sharing in the of delights of our native berries. Sometimes the rongoā is not so much contained in the kai itself but in the journey to its discovery. Therefore, I encourage you to get out and reacquaint yourself with the ngahere and her fruits at this time of the year so that you may pass these priceless treasures onto our children.

For those of you with an abundance of tomatoes or extra large zucchinis, try this aromatic, gluten free Kawakawa Fruit Relish.

In a large non-metal bowl roughly cut 3 large onions, 8 large peeled tomatoes or half a large marrow and 2 finely chopped chillies. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of salt and leave overnight. In the morning drain off and discard the water that has appeared in the bottom of the bowl and place ingredients in a large stainless steel (not aluminium) pot. Add 350 grams of sugar and white vinegar to cover. Bring to the boil and then simmer for an hour or until contents have reduced by half. Mix 1.5 tablespoons of cornflour, 1 tablespoon mild curry powder and 1 tablespoon of turmeric together with some white vinegar to make a smooth paste. Add this paste to the pot stirring constantly. Add a good handful or two of mashed ripe kawakawa berries (with their centre stalk removed) and stir through well. Place into sterilised jars and leave for a couple of weeks to settle before eating. Enjoy!

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Autumn harvest: native berries and the rongoā journey

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When we think of berries we think of the delicious summer varieties - raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and more. But Aotearoa has an abundance of native autumn berries, if you know where to look.

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Waikato Enviroschools Ecological Building Challenge 2023 - resulting actions

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Having in your survival bag a versatile item like a tarp will come in handy during an emergency situation. It will help you gather water, camouflage your supplies and it will provide a good shelter in case nothing else is available. Improvising a basic tarp shelter can keep your head dry, it will help you conserve heat and it provides a sense of comfort and safety.

A polyethylene tarp will go a long way and you should definitely get one for your bug out bag. It is lightweight, durable, draft-proof and waterproof. They come in a variety of sizes and color, and they won't burn a hole in your wallet.

Making a tarp shelter is easy and there are dozens of different ways and patterns to construct a suitable shelter with only a single tarp.

Before you make your tarp shelter you must consider the following:

The location of your shelter is very important and you should stop and think about it before building your shelter.

The direction from which the wind is blowing should be taken into account or your shelter will sail away.

The ground should be comfortable enough if you plan to get some sleep. Pointy rocks will keep you awake.

The ground should slope slightly for the water to runoff.

If there is no slope, you will have to dig some trenches around your shelter to aid drainage.

Take into account the purpose of the shelter and make it as large as it needs to be.

Consider the weather and chose a model that is stable and won't collapse if rain or snow are expected.

For all the shelter examples provided here, you can use a 10X10 foot tarp.

1. The A-frame tarp shelter

The A-Frame shelter is probably the most common shelter one can make. It can be made by stringing the paracord between two trees. Draping over the tarp and staking it down are the final steps required to make this common shelter. The 30-degree angle of the tarp's roof will create a ten foot-long living area. The shelter will be 8.6 feet wide and 2.5 feet tall. This shelter provides a good rain and snow runoff and a good wind deflection. The downside of the A-frame shelter is that there is no floor and if you haven't stretchered the paracord tight enough, there will be sagging in the middle.

2. The Sunshade tarp shelter

To create this type of shelter you will need four anchoring points to which you will tie the paracord. This is a shelter parallel to the ground and it's designed to provide 100 square feet of shade against the sun. some people use this type of shelter during the rain because the water will pool in the middle and it's easier to collect it. To make it sturdier you can add support poles to the corners. This basic sunshade tarp shelter will provide maximum protection against the sun, but it's not suitable for cold weather and it can't support rain for long.

3. The Lean-To tarp shelter

This is another shelter that it's simple to make and it's great for deflecting wind or providing sunshade. To make this shelter you need to secure the tarp to the ground on the windward side and support it with the paracord between to anchor points. A 30 degree angle of the tarp will provide five feet of height and 8 feet of width under the shelter. This is an "on the go" shelter because it's easy to erect and you can quickly take it down. It provides great wind deflection and it will keep you safe from rain or sun heat. The downside of this shelter is that there are not sides and no floor to offer protection against other elements.

4. The tube tent tarp shelter

This is a sturdy shelter that provides a floor and, if properly secured to the ground, will prevent rain from seeping in. To make it, you will need to secure the paracord between to trees and drape over the tarp with the opposite ends secured together. The sixty degrees walls will provide 3 feet of width and almost 3 feet of headroom. This should be enough room for a single adult.

5. The mushroom fly tarp shelter

This type of shelter is very similar to the basic sunshade shelter but it adds a central support pole at the tarp's midpoint. It is designed for rain or snow runoff and it's pretty sturdy if you secure the four corners of the tarp well enough. You can make it as tall or as short as you need depending on the length of the pole. This shelter provides a great runoff for rain or snow, but it doesn't have any sides to protect you from the wind or cold.

6. The cornet tarp shelter

This shelter utilizes the entire length of the paracrod strung from a tree to the ground. The tarp is draped over the paracord diagonally, while the leading edges fold under to form the floor. The corner of the shelter must be faced towards the direction of the wind. You will also need to tie off some drip lines above the entrance of the shelter to prevent rain from running down the paracord and into the shelter. This is a good design for wind deflection and rain/debris shedding. The downside of this design is that it doesn't offer too much head room and if you are a tall person, you might not have enough room for you and your gear.

7. The dining fly tarp shelter

This is the favorite design for many camper and it's a simple open air cover. It provides a good sunshade and enough headroom without sacrificing too much space. It keeps away rain but it provides limited protection against the other elements due to its lack of sides. When properly tied down and staked, the dining fly becomes a sturdy shelter and the height of the support pole will dictate the amount of headroom. This is a good model for desert survival because it provides good ventilation and adequate coverage.

8. The wind shed tarp shelter

This type of shelter requires a little practice to get it done the right way. You will need to fold the tarp into thirds and make sure the leading edge of the roof hangs over the groundsheet for adequate rain runoff. The main ridgeline has to be secured with paracords while stretched between two trees. A length of paracord must be added to the bottom fold, where the back panel meets the groundsheet. It provides great wind deflection, but it requires a lot of secure points. The hanging roofline could also sag under rain loads and channel the water onto the groundsheet.

9. The Fold-Over Wind Shed tarp shelter

This design is similar to the traditional wind shed, but it provides more coverage by sacrificing the groundsheet. The height of the paracord ridgeline determines the angle of the roof and the footprint of the shelter. It provides great wind deflection and rain runoff, but it doesn't protect completely against the elements due to its lack of floor, flaps or sides.

10. The diamond fly tarp shelter

This shelter is suitable for two persons and it's easy to make. You will need to secure the paracord to a tree and the ground, and drape over the tarp at a diagonal. The length of the paracord and the angle with which it is tied to a tree will determine the overall headroom and width of the shelter. The steep walls will shed rain and will deflect wind if they are well staked. This model will require drip lines, just like the cornet shelter. Depending on the size of the tarp, this shelter can accommodate more than two persons or more equipment, but the lack of a floor and flaps won't keep out the elements. If the wind changes direction frequently, the shelter can be compromised.

11. The arrowhead shelter

Start the construction of this shelter by supporting the center of two perpendicular edges with five foot long poles or by attaching those edges to trees using a paracord. You will need to stake to the ground the opposite corner so that it creates a series of four triangles. This design will provide 35 square feet of living space and five feet of headroom at the opening. The flap will hand down and make a partial closure. The poles need to be supported by paracord tie-downs. This shelter deflects wind with its low profile and it's very roomy.

12. The half box tarp shelter

This shelter will require some time to be built and you need to use at least four support poles and as many or more tie downs to hold it all up. The footprint provided is 25 square feet and it has two sides of protection from the elements. If not supported in the middle or kept taut from the sides, it will sag under the weight of water or snow. A full one quarter of the tarp goes unused and folded up behind the rear corner. This type of tarp shelter provides good sunshade throughout the entire day if you position it properly.

13. The barn stall tarp shelter

To make this shelter you can either use four five foot poles for support or two poles and a paracrod attached to two anchor points. The front is supported by poles and the single 90 degree wall provides enough protection, although strong wind can damage the entire structure. This shelter produces a 50 square feet living area but it has no floor. It's simple to build, but it doesn't provide adequate protection from the weather.

14. The Square arch tarp shelter

As the name implies, this shelter is an arch with a square top. Starting with two parallel lengths of paracord attached to anchor points approximately 3 feet apart and 3 feet high, drape the ground cloth over the two lengths of paracord and secure the long ends of the tarp with stakes. This is a good shelter for narrow spaces, but the odds of finding four anchor points in the needed proximity is quite low. To allow rain to runoff, make sure you secure one paracord slightly higher than the other. This shelter is three feet wide, three feet wide and ten feet long.

15. The shade sail tarp shelter

This is an easy and quick to build shelter and it requires to diagonally drape the tarp over a length of paracord attached to two anchor points. The opposite corners of the tarp are staked to the ground. This is an open and airy shelter and the lower the angles of the sides are, the better it will deflect wind and the more shade will provide. It provides all day shade and it requires minimal stakes and set up, but it's not weather resistant and it will not keep you dry.

What not to do when building a tarp shelter:

Don't build your shelter over an ant nest or any type of burrows

Don't set up your shelter beneath a dead tree or in the vicinity of one

Don't attach tarp lines to a tree standing alone or to tall trees. Always go for the short tree in a group of taller trees.

Don't set up your shelter below the high tide mark of a shoreline

Don't set up your shelter on top of a hill or ridge.

Don't set up your shelter on a river bank

Making a tarp shelter is not rocket science and with a little bit of practice anyone should be able to make one. Learning these tarp shelter patterns will come in handy during an emergency preparedness situation.

Stay safe and God Bless!

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15 Tarp Shelter Designs For Simple Camping Comfort

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Having in your survival bag a versatile item like a tarp will come in handy during an emergency situation. It will help you gather water, camouflage your supplies and it will provide a good shelter in case nothing else is available.

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For tying a tarp to a tree

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A great knot for tying a rope onto the corner of a tarp

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How to Tie the Most Useful Knot in the World (Bowline)

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10 Reasons why being outside is important

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10 Reasons why being outside is important

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In today's world of powerful technology, many people feel the urge to simplify and get back to nature. To experience the health benefits of outdoor recreation, it's necessary to unplug and recharge in the wilderness. Those who are able to soak up everything nature has to offer find out why being outside is important-it comes down to health.

Long before smartphones and self-driving cars, Japan deemed "forest bathing" an essential part of its national health program. With forest bathing, the soaking isn't literal. Bathing takes on a new meaning-immersing yourself in the natural environment.

The concept stems from Japanese Shinrin-Yoku Forest Therapy, and goes back to 1982. Over three decades later, the goal of forest bathing is still to reintroduce people to the healing power of nature. Much study and research has confirmed what the Japanese have long believed-nature benefits wellbeing in many ways.

The popularity of forest bathing has risen in the United States, particularly in metropolitan areas. Individuals, families, and friends have taken to the woods together for therapeutic hikes and nature walks. But forest bathing isn't the only thing you can use the outdoors to improve your wellbeing.

There are so many ways you can take advantage of the benefits of nature. We'll leave the how to you-hint: it starts with putting down your phone and experiencing the outdoors. We'll supply the why. Here are 10 reasons why being outside is important to improving the health of you and your family.

1. Relieve Stress

Getting outside can help you escape the stress of work or school. Stress can tear up a healthy mind and immune system. High levels of stress at work and school are associated with depression, obesity, and high blood pressure. Stress is unhealthy when not managed properly. Luckily, there is a natural stress reliever right in your backyard.

Spending time in nature relieves stress in teens and adults. Bloodstream levels of the stress hormone cortisol are lowered after time spent outside. For a group of male students in China, those who spent their break from school hiking and camping returned with lower cortisol levels than those who spent time in the city. And these lower cortisol levels persisted for several days after their retreat to the wilderness.

The results suggest regular trips outdoors are a reliable way to manage stress. Experiences in nature are low cost and accessible to everyone. For the next long weekend, choose to spend time in nature over a trip to the city. You will reduce your stress load and return feeling rejuvenated.

Pro tip: Nature can help create more job satisfaction. Office workers with window views are more satisfied and less stressed at work. If you don't have a window, take time every day to look outside and feel the stress-busting effects of nature views.

2. Strengthen Immunity

Staying indoors can have a negative impact on your immune health. The immune system works best when challenged regularly. That doesn't happen when we spend time indoors.

Healthy doses of nature will help prepare your body fight. Here's how it works.

A study published in 2010 evaluated the effect of forest bathing on immune function. For a group of Japanese adults, a three-day trip to the forest increased the number of white blood cells in their blood. These levels of white blood cells stayed elevated for more than 30 days after their adventure in the woods. White blood cells are crucial to your immune system. They help your body battle germs by recognizing pathogens and harmful intruders with the help of antibodies.

The boost in immunity from a trip into nature can help keep you feeling healthy. For active adults and growing children, increased immunity is a valuable asset in a healthy lifestyle. Strengthening your body's natural germ-fighting power with a regular trip into the wild.

3. Sharpen Your Focus

In the general population, studies have shown that attention is almost uniformly enhanced by exposure to natural environments. A study published in 2009 found that the same holds true for children with attention deficits. Spending twenty minutes walking in a nearby park was sufficient enough to elevate attention performance in children with ADHD. This so-called "dose of nature" could prove to be a more natural solution to attention deficits in children.

The same effects can be seen in adult attention. Views of nature from an office window and breaks from work in the outdoors have both been shown to increase productivity and concentration.

For a significant boost in focus and creativity, escape to the woods for longer periods of time. Creative problem solving and cognitive function can be boosted by nearly 50 percent after spending several days exploring the outdoors. Wilderness retreats may help you tackle a big assignment or personal goal. If you're still wondering why being outside is important, it can enhance your creativity.

4. Helps Develop a Healthier Diet

Looking for a hobby to get you outside? Gardening is a great way to increase your time outdoors. Not only does gardening keep you active, it provides you with access to healthy fruits and vegetables on a regular basis.

Outdoor recreation has long been associated with a healthy lifestyle. But being active in your garden also lets you can reap the healthy dietary rewards of your labor and get exercise at the same time.

Read more reasons why you can grow health in the garden.

5. Calm the Mind

Anxiety and depression can be crippling. Coping with mental illness is difficult and methods vary from person to person. Most physicians and therapists recommend regular exercise in addition to therapy and medication. Getting that recommended exercise outdoors can help ease emotional and mental pain while improving mood.

There are several physical responses our bodies have to being in nature. Sitting outside can reduce blood pressure, lower heart rate, and decrease cortisol levels. When we are outside our body slows down, helping us feel peaceful and calm.

Our minds work in a similar way. Spending time outside improves mood and reduces feelings of anxiety. We can focus better in nature, and our improved concentration can help us address feelings of stress and anxiety. Self-esteem can also receive a boost after time spent wandering outdoors.

Peace and mental clarity is a big reason why being outside is important. Find it by adding time in nature to your mental healthcare regimen.

6. Aids in Weight Management

Nature offers beautiful views and fresh air, so choose an exercise regimen that will get you outside. Research at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than one third of American adults are obese.

Exercise and proper diet are the two most effective ways to stop the spread of obesity. You can burn 149 calories each half hour of walking in the park, and 372 calories every half hour by riding your bike. To encourage kids to get exercise outside, find a fun activity to do as a family. Increase your time walking, biking, running, and playing outside and lower your risk of obesity. Take your exercise outside the gym and enjoy all the health benefits nature has to offer.

7. Better Your Short-Term Memory

Nature could be the answer to remembering names, not forgetting your keys, and taking better notes in class. There is growing evidence that both short-term and working memory can be improved by time spent outside.

At the University of Michigan, a simple experiment backed this theory. Two groups of students were given a memory test and then assigned to take a walk through a garden or down a city street. After their walks, the participants performed the memory test again. Those who walked through the garden improved their scores by 20 percent. No consistent improvement was observed in the participants who walked in the city.

Natural scenery and garden views calm our minds and help us focus. Urban settings are full of traffic, street noise, lights, and lots of people. These things pull our attention in several directions. This makes it hard to sharpen our focus and recall things we just learned. Pondering new information in a peaceful, natural setting may help enhance your short-term memory.

8. Improve Vision

Your eyes provide another reason why being outside is important. A study following Australian school children linked time spent outside and better vision. Of the 2,000 children followed during the study, those who spent more time playing outside significantly reduced their risk of becoming nearsighted. This suggests that outdoor activity has a protective effect on the eyes of children.

These results are striking because the same was not observed in children who spent time playing indoor sports. Being outside in fresh air and sunlight protects growing eyes more than equal physical activity indoors.

Dim indoor lighting makes it difficult for young eyes to focus on an image. This causes the eye to change shape in order to see clearly. The ample light of the outdoors keeps kid's eyes from working harder than they need to. So when encouraging play time and exercise, take the fun outside and protect your child's eye health.

9. Fight Nature Deficit Disorder

We're spending more time inside than ever before. Computers, tablets, cell phones, and video games hog our attention and keep us from getting into nature. That's especially bad for our children.

Playing outside encourages kid's creativity, builds their attention spans, and increases their desire to explore. The book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv outlines this growing pattern. Louv coined the term nature-deficit disorder to explain what happens when kids spend too much time indoors.

Recent findings show children ages 8-18 spend more than six hours each day with electronic media. A study published in 2002 found that 8-year-old children could better identify Pokémon characters than plants or animals in their neighborhoods. As children spend less time outside, unhealthy habits begin to form.

Children who spend little time outside are at risk for developing chronic health problems. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and depression are common companions of a sedentary indoor lifestyle. Help your family learn healthy habits and encourage playing outside over electronic devices.

10. Increase Longevity

A 2015 study followed 108,630 American women to determine the relationship between nature and longevity. Women who lived near parks, lawns, trees, and forests had significantly lower mortality than women living far from nature. The results held regardless of urban or rural settings.

The longer life expectancy associated with living near vegetation could be caused by several factors. Air quality is known to increase longevity and is better in areas of more dense vegetation. Being close to parks and nature trails can encourage more frequent exercise, which helps maintain heart health. Time spent outside also increases social engagement and can improve mental health.

Whatever the exact cause, getting outdoors will help you live happier and longer-and that's the ultimate reason why being outside is important. So, when establishing a place to live, pick a location where you and your family have regular access to nature.

Get Healthy, Get Outdoors

Find time today to venture outside and take advantage of the health benefits of the outdoors. Replace time spent inside on electronic devices with a bike ride or a walk to a local park. Take up forest bathing or gardening as a new hobby. And remember outdoor recreation can be enjoyed alone or as a family.

There's no wrong way to get outside and so much to be gained by exploring the natural world. You know why being outside is important. It's time to reconnect with nature. Your body and mind will thank you for it later.

About the Author

Sydney Sprouse is a freelance science writer based out of Forest Grove, Oregon. She holds a bachelor of science in human biology from Utah State University, where she worked as an undergraduate researcher and writing fellow. Sydney is a lifelong student of science and makes it her goal to translate current scientific research as effectively as possible. She writes with particular interest in human biology, health, and nutrition.
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10 Reasons Why Being Outside is Important

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In today's world of powerful technology, many people feel the urge to simplify and get back to nature. To experience the health benefits of outdoor recreation, it's necessary to unplug and recharge in the wilderness. Those who are able to soak up everything nature has to offer find out why being outside is important-it comes down to health.

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Let kid's bond with nature while there's still time

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Let kid's bond with nature while there's still time

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“If we want children to truly flourish, to become truly empowered, let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it” – Place-based educator, David Sobel. 

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“If we want children to truly flourish, to become truly empowered, let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it” – Place-based educator, David Sobel. 