Prescribing Nature: Connecting Children with Nature for Better Health
Today's kids may be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. At younger ages and higher rates than ever before, children are grappling with conditions like childhood obesity, asthma, hypertension and type-2 diabetes. This health crisis is partly explained by kids’ inactivity. Now, the National Environmental Education Foundation has a new fix: the outdoors.
The foundation’s goal is to launch a campaign, “Prescribing Nature,” calling on pediatric heath care providers to prescribe outdoor time to kids ages 7-12 and to recommend accessible nature programs that fulfill this prescription.
Already, the foundation has laid the groundwork for this project, with its existing program to train thousands of doctors and nurses to diagnose, treat and prevent conditions caused by environmental threats. The American Academy of Pediatrics, National Association of School Nurses, Children’s Environmental Health Network and the American Public Health Association are all long-time supporters of the foundation’s work.
To encourage pediatric health care providers to “prescribe” nature, the foundation is teaming up with the National Audubon Society to pilot efforts at 3 nature centers in diverse communities. Each center will work closely with several nearby clinics and/or schools to prescribe and fill this need for nature.
Over the next few years, Prescribing Nature aims to reach 3,000 trained providers, generating 1 million prescriptions for outdoor activity—and lots of happier, healthier kids.
To Learn More
Leyla Erk McCurdy
mccurdy@neefusa.org
4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC, 20008
202.261.6488
www.neefusa.org/health/children_nature.htm
