U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Children and Nature
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Cover of Fish and Wildlife News Special Children & Nature
Edition. Credit: USFWS.
Connecting People with Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation (PPT)
Let's Go Outside!
Helping Families Connect With Nature
"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." - Rachel Carson
Back To Nature
Service biologist Carolyn Kolstad, director of the Chesapeake Bay Field Office’s Schoolyard Habitat program explains the intricacies of wetland plant plugs. Credit: Lavonda Walton/USFWS
For years, Service employees have been connecting children with the land and with the agency's conservation mission. Today those efforts may be more important than ever.
By David Eisenhauer
Senses in the Desert
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge offers children the chance to experience what they learn in the classroom. Credit: Chuck Mulcahy/USFWS
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona is an oasis of life and learning for thirsty young minds.
By Betty Mulcahy
Did You Know?
Did you know that nature is good for your health? Emerging research shows that children who feel connected to nature have better physical, mental, and emotional health. Nature also improves student learning. And sharing the outdoors together can build strong family bonds and create life-long memories.
What Can You Do?
Go outside and connect a child to the wild!
Spending time outside is fun for the whole family. And it doesn't have to be somewhere far from home. It can be simple and safe:
- Take a walk in the woods
- Lie on your back in your backyard and watch the clouds roll by
- Turn over rocks in a stream and look for critters
- Catch lightning bugs
- Climb a tree
- Fish at a local pond
- Draw a picture of a tree and all the animals that live in it
- Picnic at a local park
Whether it is your own backyard, a local community park or a national wildlife refuge, there are lots of outdoor places you can visit. Start by doing something small, and see what happens from there! The possibilities are endless.