New studies are showing that children who have unstructured experiences in nature . . . i.e. time to wander and explore . . .grow up with a greater interested in the environment. Such experiences also trigger their ability to play with their imaginzations, experience the wonder of our home planet and to get in touch with their spiritual nature.
The Peace Education Institute offers such opportunities for children up to 12 years old.
At our location, just15 minutes from downtown Oklahoma City, on a 30 acre plot of undeveloped land, children can camp, eat around a campfire and wander around in the woods.
For a donation of only $15 per child, PEI will provide the tents, a wiener roast over an open campfire, a hot breakfast and lunch (also cooked over a fire). PEI director, Conna Wilkinson, will be on hand to do the cooking, but there needs to be one adult accompanying every four children.
Groups of 4-8 are ideal, but we can accomodate up to 16.
What is Nature-Deficit Disorder?
According to Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, our children and society are suffering because children are not getting experiences with nature. The effects extend to the whoe family --" increased feelings of stress, trouble paying attention, feelings of not being rooted in the world. Systems extend to whole communities, and whole cities. Really, what I'm talking about is a disorder of society -- and children are victimized by it."
