Regional Report from Ohio l January 2011
The Children & Nature Movement is growing and growing, with increasingly more campaigns in more than 40 states. With so much good news to share, this month C&NN features updates from Ohio.
Leave No Child Inside (LNCI) Statewide
OH LNCI includes five collaboratives which share information and materials (including a common logo) and work together on statewide issues.
Ohio Launches Statewide Call to Action
This past April 9, 2010, a children and nature statewide summit brought together 80 leaders from organizations all over Ohio representing government, health, education, early childhood, nature organizations, transportation and city planning, and community organizations, in addition to Ohio’s then- First Lady Frances Strickland.
The Call to Action spurred much of LNCI’s 2010 achievements, which included creating the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, developing a public awareness campaign, creating a report with recommendations for reconnecting children with nature, and planning a fall event to publicize and celebrate the work underway in Ohio.
Pictured, left to right: Jenny Morgan, Co-chair, LNCI Central OH, Sean Logan, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Frances Strickland, First Lady of Ohio, Betsy Townsend, Co-chair, LNCI Greater Cincinnati, Alice Hohl, Co-chair, LNCI Central OH.
[+] Read the Event Summary & Action Agenda
[+] Read more
Ohio Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights
 A team of the five LNCI collaboratives wrote the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, which was released via Proclamation by then- Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and the mayors of 29 Ohio cities September 25, 2010. Linda Ramey, Miami Valley LNCI Chair, served as the bill’s lead author.
Pictured: Dr. Wendy Anderson
The Ohio collaboratives also participated in a simulcast Call to Action rally that coincided with the proclamation. The rally utilized video conferencing and satellite events to the main event in Columbus. It was attended by state department leaders from the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Education, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
[+] Find out more
“Did Your Child Play Outside Today” Public awareness campaign
LNCI collaboratives developed the "Did Your Child Play Outside Today" public awareness campaign. In the campaign’s initial phase, posters were distributed and made available for download. The group created a PSA video featuring Jack Hanna (Director Emeritus of the Columbia Zoo and frequent guest on national late night TV shows) which was designed to reach doctors, parents, children and others to encourage them to support the work of OH LNCI and get outdoors every day.
[+] View the video
Ohio Enlists Pediatricians in “Play Outside” Campaign
Building on Richard Louv’s keynote at the American Academy of Pediatrics in October, 2010, LNCI OH had a booth at the state meeting of the Ohio Chapter of the AAP. With the help of physician/advocate Wendy Anderson, MD, LNCI hopes to identify 500 pediatricians statewide who will advocate for outdoor play by displaying posters and wearing "Did Your Child Play Outside Today" buttons. Planning is underway to kick off this initiative at a statewide event with Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus in June of 2011.
[+] Find out more
Report on Reconnecting Children with Nature
OH LNCI collaboratives collected information from state departments and non-profit organizations throughout the state to identify work already underway to reconnect children with nature. Expanding on strategies identified by the National Wildlife Federation, C&NN, and other states which have prepared similar reports, the report outlines strategies and highlights work in progress in Ohio. The report was co-produced with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Office of the Governor and was released in September, 2010.
[+] Download the report
LNCI Collaboratives Receive Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Cardinal Award
The Cardinal Award was presented by then- Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to "individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional awareness and concern for ideals reflected in the department’s mission statement: 'to ensure a balance between the wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.'"
Pictured, right to left: Sean Logan, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources presents the award to representatives of Ohio LNCI, Betsy Townsend, Alice Hohl and Jenny Morgan.
[+] Read More
Music for the LNCI movement by Central OH LNCI Co-Chair Jenny Morgan
"Nature needs kids, and kids need nature
From the tallest oak tree to the smallest creature
Nature needs kids, and kids need nature
They’re counting on us to be their protectors"
Singer/Songwriter and LNCI co-chair Jenny Morgan directs The Columbus School for Girls choir in a performance of songs she created for the LNCI movement.
[+] Listen here
INDIVIDUAL COLLABORATIVE NEWS
Northwest OH – Kickoff Event with Bass Pro
NW Ohio LNCI held a Sept. 25 event at Bass Pro to celebrate the Ohio Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights and publicize its activities and resources. More than 10 different agencies were represented. Activities for children included fishing, nature journaling, target shooting, making s’mores, and more. “Dr. Nature” was on hand with prescriptions to GET OUTSIDE.
Pictured: Mary Warren, NW Ohio Co-chair, at the information table
Cincinnati’s Natural Playscape is First of Kind in U.S.
Cincinnati’s Nature Playscape, designed by Robin Moore from NC State in collaboration with several local landscape architects, has received national attention. Moore described the completely natural 1.5 acre playscape as the first of its kind in the U.S.
[+] Read more
Highlights from Central OH LNCI
In addition to participating in all of the statewide work, this collaborative worked with other groups to create an Environmental Literacy Plan for the state of Ohio. Co-Chair Jenny Morgan was chosen by Action for Children to attend the World Forum on Children and Nature. With other groups, Jenny helped launch the Central Ohio Natural Playscape Initiative, to bring more natural play and learning spaces to central Ohio. Central OH LNCI also supplied the keynote at the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference and presented at Ohio Parks and Recreation annual gathering. The group also produced a promotional/educational DVD was utilized by fellow LNCI Collaborative from around the state of Ohio to further the LNCI message in their communities.
[+] Download the Leave No Child Inside Central Ohio Collaborative Annual Report 2010
Northeast OH Presents at April Call to Action
 Northeast Ohio chair Nick Morris presents his table's "headlines of the future" at Statewide Call to Action
Find out more about OH LNCI:
LNCI - Central Ohio
Co-Chairs: Jenny Morgan and Alice Hohl
Web site:
http://kidsandnature.org/blog/
LNCI - Cincinnati
Co-Chairs: Betsy Townsend and Bill Hopple
Web Site:
http://www.lncigc.org/
LNCI - Miami Valley
Chair: Linda Ramey
Web site:
http://www.ohiolnci.org/ohio-regions/miami-valleydayton/
LNCI - Northeast Ohio
Chair: Nick Morris
Web site:
http://www.ohiolnci.org/ohio-regions/northeast-ohio/
LNCI - Northwest Ohio
Co-Chairs: Mary Warren and Sandy Gratop
Web site:
http://everykidoutsidenwoh.org/
What will it take to bring fundamental change to your community? Part of the solution is finding new allies -- on the local and national levels. Each of us has a role to play. You can also help by supporting C&NN's peer-to-peer network. Donate Now!
|
|
