“The power of imagination makes us infinite.” – John Muir
He scared me, coming up through the brush on the creek bank. I wasn’t expecting to see a young barefooted boy, carrying a black pond net and white plastic bucket, suddenly appear during my morning visit to the park.
I flashed back to our son catching fish near that same creek so many years ago. I can see him riding his bike, loaded with fishing gear, peddling along with his friends, down to the lake. Once, he brought three fish home for our dinner, “stuck ‘um” in the refrigerator, uncleaned, and waited for his mother to “cook ‘um up.”
I wondered if this mop headed boy had brought friends too, or was he alone? Looking around, I spotted a woman sitting by the creek with a dog. Yes, she was his mother and this park was their new front yard. The family had recently moved into a home across the street. The boy and his dog would grow up in the 98 acres of Freedom Park.
This was the second day of what would be an infinite number of imaginary adventures for this fortunate young man. Yesterday had rewarded him with a salamander, today a baby bluegill and a lady bug
Every child in our city should have access to nature. Thanks to the many parks scattered everywhere in our county, there are many opportunities for almost everyone to find adventures outdoors.
The children who take advantage of these green spaces will do great.
There’s abundant support to the notion that children playing outdoors develop capacities for creativity, problem-solving, and intellectual development.
Children are smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the outdoors.
Best of all, their time in nature reduces the stress they experience going through the aches and pains of growing up.
The young boy I met won’t suffer from “nature deficit disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods.
What do you think? This is what my research shows, have you looked into this idea for your family? Tell me what you have learned?
Is the outdoors only good for children or have you found ways for an adult to benefit? What have you learned?
Do you know about Every Kid in a Park and how every fourth grader and his family have free access to our National Parks for one year?
“Because no matter who your are, no matter where you live, our parks, our monuments, our lands, our waters – these places are your birthright as Americans.” – President Barack Obama
As always, the conversation starts here.
“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran
Epilogue
Let’s all go outdoors more. It’s a good choice.
My 14 year old son has always been happiest when playing in the creek or roaming the woods. He comes in smelling so bad I can barely listen to his adventures. I wouldn’t trade these times for anything.
Lauri Ann –
That is wonderful. Those memories will be with both of you forever, treasure them. Plus your son will be a better person for his happiness.
Thanks for being part of the conversation.
– Bruce
Great words, Bruce! Along with the Every Kid in a Park is the great opportunity that seniors are able to get a lifetime National Park pass for $10!
What better way to have exploration times with one’s grandkids!
Thank you!
Tammy –
So true. Thanks for your comment, it’s the best $10 we have ever spent.
“The supreme reality of our time is … the vulnerability of our planet.”
“National parks and reserves are an integral aspect of intelligent use of natural resources. It is the course of wisdom to set aside an ample portion of our natural resources as national parks and reserves, thus ensuring that future generations may know the majesty of the earth as we know it today.”
– John F. Kennedy
I want our parks to always be part of who we are.
– Bruce
One of the things I like about Portland is the large number of parks and green spaces. In fact, we have three parks within a mile of our house–each has lots of play equipment. The parks get heavy use by kids, adults, and dogs. Maybe it’s because we have drizzly winters that Portlanders love being outdoors whenever they can.
Margie –
We miss you and Jeff in Charlotte, but I know how happy you are in Portland with your growing family.
The Pacific Northwest is our favorite part of this great country, if we ever go missing that would be a good place to start the search.
When you speak of the “drizzly winters” I think of the idea that the way to spot the tourist is by their umbrellas. So true.
Thanks for being part of the conversation.
– Bruce