Activating and Awarding Our Community Spaces for the Benefit of Children
APA Ohio Miami Valley Section
#9161409
Friday, December 7, 2018
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. EST
CM | 1.25
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Children need our help and encouragement in providing access and modeling to spend more time outside closer to nature in non-structured play to gain the health and wellness benefits that will make them Happier, Healthier and Smarter (Children and Nature Network, 2018). Grassroots organizations are joining in a social movement along with municipal and other organizations nationally and locally to enable this trend towards a healthier childhood. Locally, Hike It Baby, a branch chapter of a national organization, has been facilitating parent and child healthy hikes in our local parks such as at Five Rivers MetroParks and Centerville Washington Park District as well as within municipalities such as along the sidewalks in Miamisburg to encourage parents to participate in fun bonding hikes with peers and their children. Recently Sugarcreek MetroPark received national recognition from being included in the book, “Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoors Adventures With Babies and Toddlers”. Elisabeth Elam will introduce the Hike It Baby network and review the characteristics that make these community spaces welcoming and useful for families and grassroots organizers. Discover how Hike It Baby can help local governments and organizations activate their community space.Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside has also continues to work within our region promoting our annual summit benchmarking outstanding examples of community work providing access and encouragement for children to spend more time outside in nature. A review of our current projects and dreams will be shared including an update on the status of our Dayton Regional Green and Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside’s, “Connect To Nature Awards” for Schools and Sites highlighting their work towards enabling the Ohio Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. Find out how this collaborative can help you help the children in your community.
Speakers
Elizabeth Elam
Invited Speaker
Douglas Horvath
Invited Speaker
Contact Info
Douglas Horvath, dhorvath@metroparks.org