Kids in the Woods on the Hiawatha
Youth were thankful for this year's KIW and are already looking forward to next summer!
Partnership brings hundreds of youth on weekly jaunts into Forest all summer long
There is growing evidence that today's youth are gravitating away from the natural world in favor of sedentary indoor activities. The negative effects of this shift, including obesity and attention deficit disorder, are being felt around the country. Fortunately, many people are becoming aware of the problem, in part due to the Richard Louv's popular book, "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder." For example, the Chief of the Forest Service has made "connecting kids to the woods" one of three agency priorities.
Many National Forests, including the Hiawatha, are ideally situated to help address this societal issue by striving to "leave no child inside." This year, one of the Hiawatha's most successful "leave no child inside" programs was the Rapid River/Manistique District's "Kids in the Woods" program.
Kids in the Woods, provided in partnership with YMCA of Delta County and Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County, aimed to reconnect kids with the outdoors through physically active outdoor pursuits and outdoor educational programs.
"Although we live in close proximity to abundant woods and water," says Anne Okonek, Forest Service coordinator for the project, "we understand that some parents may not have the background or the resources to teach their kids about the woods and a land ethic. They may not know where to go or what to do."
The program was designed to strengthen kids' outdoor connections by giving them a wide range of experiences in the outdoors. Each Thursday, for 8 weeks, 50 youngsters from the Delta County (Escanaba) YMCA were bussed to different Forest Service recreation sites, to learn about and develop an appreciation for the woods. There were four activity sessions each day, each approximately 45 minutes in length. Some activities, such as kayaking, took 1.5 hours (or 2 sessions).
"Forest Service staff, YMCA personnel, and community volunteers guided kids in various activities," explains Okonek, "from mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rock climbing wall, swimming and kayaking to journaling, nature crafts, fossil identification, tagging Monarch butterflies and Native American dance."
Youth also got hands-on experience with bug and scavenger hunts, orienteering, plant and aquatic critter identification, and birding. They participated in activities that taught them how to "give back" to the forest by cleaning up trash, fixing a hiking trail, and transplanting native plants.
How was the program received?
According to one parent, "I was amazed how much my son learned and did!"
Another parent explained, "My child seems to be more adventurous and doesn't freak out about snakes, spiders and frogs as much. "
Post-program evaluations also point to the success of the District's Kids in the Woods partnership. Based on evaluations by the parents and their kids, we know that 89% of parents who responded to the survey said that their kids wanted to spend more time in the woods as a result of the Kids in the Woods program. In addition, 90% said that their kids would like to attend another KIW program if held again next year!
The Forest and its partners are currently seeking funding to duplicate the project in 2009. This year's project was funded with special funds ("4% Funds") provided by the Regional Office.
The effort to provide such programming is clearly worth it, contends Okonek, particularly when you listen to what the kids and their parents have to say.
"My son really gained self-confidence and matured immensely during this trips. He learned many things that are not taught in school or daycare. I work full time and can't provide these activities. He came home every Thursday tired and excited about what he learned. He reenacted every detail to me. He was very "pumped" about kayaking. I'm sure I'll be buying some in the near future."