Research confirms the deficit of, and the critical need of our young people for, experiences with nature and its therapeutic benefits!

Last Child in the Woods – saving our children from nature-deficit disorder, by Richard Louv, is a must-read for any person concerned with the positive social development of our children

As Richard Louv shows in his recent book, Last Child in the Woods - saving our children from nature-deficit disorder, the evidence is overwhelming that exposure to nature provides very important developmental benefits for children, especially for those kids who have been deprived of the opportunity to experience and explore nature because of their economic and/or cultural circumstances. Mr. Louv shares with us how experiences in nature have been shown conclusively to benefit children socially, psychologically, cognitively and spiritually.

This evidence comes from voluminous research that links the lack of nature in the lives of today's wired generation to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as rises in obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder and depression.

Moreover, in the modern era it is not only disadvantaged children who lack meaningful experiences with the natural world while growing up; even in middle class and affluent families a child's reality today is more likely to be informed by artificial constructs such as video games, cell phones, Play Station and Nintendo than by the natural world.

In "Last Child in the Woods" Richard Louv, records a quote from a fourth-grader in San Diego that says it all: The child says, "I like to play indoors better, ‘cause that's where all the electrical outlets are".

Why is this phenomenon so important? Following is another passage from “Last Child in the Woods”: “…at the very moment that the bond is breaking between the young and the natural world, a growing body of research links our mental, physical and spiritual health directly to our association with nature – in positive ways. Several of these studies suggest that thoughtful exposure of youngsters to nature can even be a powerful form of therapy for attention-deficit disorders and other maladies.