Parks, outdoor spaces gear up for annual Take a Child Outside Week
The program, founded by Liz Baird, chief of school and lifelong education for the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, is now marked in all 50 states and four other countries.
Posted — UpdatedTake a Child Outside Week kicks off, as it does every year, Sept. 24 and is designed to help kids get out and explore the natural world.
The program, founded by Liz Baird, chief of school and lifelong education for the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, is now marked in all 50 states and four other countries. It was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods,” which identifies the benefits of outdoor experiences for children and addresses some of the problems of what he terms “Nature Deficit Disorder,” such as increased stress and feelings of being disconnected from the world, according to a news release from the natural sciences museum.
Here in the Triangle, there are lots of free and inexpensive programs to mark the week. Most are offered by state and local park systems, along with the natural sciences museum. Some require pre-registration, which is why I'm sharing the details now instead of later.
The week will run through Sept. 30.
Here's what's planned:
Praire Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr., Raleigh
The natural science museum's outdoor learning lab, Prairie Ridge Ecostation in west Raleigh, will host daily activities. Here's when they are:
- 10 a.m. to noon, Sept. 24: Nature Playday
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Sept. 25: Nature Art
- 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sept. 26: Nature Stories
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sept. 27: Sunset Walk
- 10 a.m. to noon, Sept. 28: Nature Playday
- 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sept. 28, Citizen Science Saturdays
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 29: Fossil Dig
- 10;30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sept. 30: Guided Walk
Raleigh Parks, various locations
Town of Cary
Wake County parks
JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh
Across North Carolina
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