4-H Youth Naturalist Club gears up to give kids more green time
Summer is synonymous with outdoor fun, but as kids head back to school, many families wonder how to keep that connection to nature alive. In a world where “screen time” is often prioritized over “green time,” the importance of getting youth outside and immersing them in the great outdoors is more vital than ever.
A growing body of research highlights the many advantages of outdoor experiences for youth. These benefits aren't limited to just physical health; they extend to cognitive development as well. Being outside fosters social skills and helps children build a sense of community.
It's a place where friendships blossom and leadership qualities are nurtured. Perhaps most importantly, time spent in the outdoors can instill a sense of environmental stewardship. This connection to nature is not only personally enriching but also vital for the long-term sustainability of our beautiful North Florida ecosystems.
Recognizing the potential slump in nature exploration as the school year begins, youth organizations around Leon County are ensuring that a return to the classrooms does not translate to less time outdoors. With initiatives like the 4-H Youth Naturalist Club, Leon County families have exciting new opportunities to engage with the outdoors this Fall.
Physical benefits of the outdoors
Getting outdoors and exploring green spaces are pathways to a healthy and active lifestyle. The physical benefits of outdoor play for children are multifaceted and extend beyond general exercise. Imagine a child climbing a tree, running over uneven ground, or leaping across a stream. Each of these actions serves not only as a fun adventure but also plays a critical role in developing motor skills and proprioception, which is the awareness of the body's position.
Outdoor activities also help build stamina and endurance. Whether it's hiking Torreya Park or playing a game of soccer in a community park, youth are challenged in ways that typical indoor environments cannot match.
These natural settings demand more from their bodies, which helps encourage youth to push themselves physically. The robust foundation in physical fitness that you help your child establish now will serve as a valuable framework for healthy routines that will follow them into adulthood.
Mental benefits of the outdoors
Exploring the great outdoors isn't only good for the body; it's also beneficial for our youth’s mental health. A day spent outdoors can refresh and rejuvenate the mind. Children, in particular, can benefit immensely.
Outdoor activities offer a unique form of experiential learning for youth, where taking risks, exploring new terrains, and reflecting on successes and failures is part of the experience. Youth learn to manage emotions and expectations effectively, building resiliency along the way.
Beyond nurturing the mind, outdoor experiences play a pivotal role in enhancing social bonds and community ties. Far removed from the screens and distractions of daily life, the outdoors is a venue for genuine human interaction. It is a place where friendships are forged, and bonds within families are strengthened.
In addition, the collaborative and imaginative nature of outdoor play helps youth find common ground with others, building empathy and appreciation of differences. These outdoor connections provide a sense of belonging and community that is vital for both children and adults to thrive.
Nurturing an appreciation of science
Outdoor play offers more than just recreation; it's a chance for youth to develop an appreciation for science. Exploring natural environments helps children understand the world through observation and reasoning, fostering their analytical skills.
Simple activities, like identifying different types of trees or learning how to read a map, can turn adventures into meaningful learning opportunities. These experiences not only enhance a young person’s knowledge but teach them how to learn in a setting other than a classroom.
Furthermore, engaging with nature introduces children to the idea that science isn't confined to laboratories or the typical professions they might associate with the subject. The science of ecology, microbiology, meteorology, botany, and geology is all around them in the natural world.
Whether observing the way water flows in a stream, identifying the different cloud formations, or exploring the soil's composition, children can see science in action in everyday life. By demystifying science and presenting it as an integral part of their surroundings, outdoor exploration can inspire a lifelong love of learning and potentially lead to a broader interest in various scientific fields.
Nurturing environmental stewardship and civic engagement
When children begin to engage with nature, they may start by admiring its beauty. However, outdoor exploration can cultivate a deeper sense of environmental stewardship among youth, transitioning them from mere appreciation to a profound understanding of ecology.
Youth who are exposed to environmental education soon come to recognize the delicate balance and vital importance of different ecosystems. They understand how interdependent relationships between living things and the environment contribute to the overall health and sustainability of the area.
The most profound and lasting impact of fostering environmental stewardship in youth is helping them to develop their civic engagement. As youth explore different natural areas, they begin to observe firsthand the consequences of pollution, deforestation, and other human activities that have harmed our land.
Youth may start with simple steps, like participating in local clean-ups, planting trees, or engaging in recycling efforts at home and school. As their passion grows, they may take on larger roles, such as championing the preservation of parks and green spaces in their community or organizing awareness campaigns about the importance of conservation.
Some youth may even take leadership and advocacy roles, working with local government and organizations, and educating their community about sustainable practices.
Encouraging youth outdoors
Engaging your youth in outdoor activities can be initiated through small, fun, and interactive steps. Start with simple activities like a walk in the park, a neighborhood scavenger hunt, or planting a small pollinator garden at home. Make the experience enjoyable by incorporating games and friends. Remember, the goal is to foster a love for the outdoors, and keeping activities entertaining will make youth more inclined to participate willingly and regularly.
Community programs can help you incorporate social and educational elements into outdoor exploration. This fall, UF/IFAS Leon County Extension will be launching the 4-H Youth Naturalist Club aimed at young nature enthusiasts. Inspired by the Master Naturalist Program, this club takes youth on a journey through Florida’s uplands, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems.
Field trips throughout the year will provide the hands-on outdoor experience youth need. Such enriching opportunities are only available thanks to the gracious sponsorship of the Sunshine State Biodiversity Group (SSBG), a new Florida-based environmental nonprofit focused on the importance of biodiversity and wild places. SSBG works to preserve land that benefits threatened ecosystems while also supporting related educational opportunities and engaging in cultural outreach.
To learn more about the Youth Naturalist Club, consider attending the UF/IFAS Leon County Extension Youth Open House from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 9 at 615 Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee. This event is an excellent chance to meet the amazing adults who make up the Youth Team at extension and get your youth involved in programs that encourage them to step outside and appreciate the world around them.
Valerie Mendez is a 4-H Agent with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.
If you go
What: Open House for Youth Naturalist Club
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9
Where: UF/IFAS Leon County Extension, 615 Paul Russell Road
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 4-H Youth Naturalist Club gears up to give kids more green time
