Explorer News

Two members of C&NN's Natural Leaders Network have been featured in important upcoming books. Juan Martinez, Natural Leader Coordinator, is featured in the book, Hispanics Living Green, by Sharon T. Freeman. A Congressional Reception to celebrate the book will be held March 17.

Many states around the U.S. are working to get children into nature. Maryland’s Governor recently announced that state’s Children in Nature Action Plan for 2010. California passed a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, which includes 10 easy and fun things the state recommends children experience from age 4-14.

C&NN recently launched its Natural Teachers Network, and the discussion group quickly gained many enthusiastic teachers, parents and others who use the natural world as a teaching tool. The group has recently discussed ideas for winter nature activities and for using the Iditarod sled race as an inspiration to get people outdoors. Meet some of the members of our Natural Teachers Network:

It’s time for a National Conference on Children, Nature and the Law, organized by the legal profession with a little help from insurance companies, educators, health care folks, policy-makers, C&NN and others. This conference is a fiction, so far. But somebody needs to step to the plate.

Those of us who care about the future of our children and the human relationship with the natural world should applaud First Lady Michelle Obama's call for a " Let's Move" campaign to reverse the trend toward child obesity. We particularly like her statement that when she was young, " we spent hours running around outside, we couldn't go inside until dinner." In the past, the national conversation about child obesity has seldom mentioned getting outside in nature as part of the solution. We're hoping that changes, and as the " Let's Move" campaign evolves, it will give far greater attention to children's independent play, particularly in natural surroundings.

Beginning January 16, Green Hour will begin its big migration over to its new home. Find out about the changes!

Rebecca Cohen achieved an amazing goal: She had an outdoor experience with her kids every day in 2009. Find out how!

Children's author Mary Quattlebaum knows how to have a Green Hour even at the the darkest time of the year.