Parents & Teachers

Do you remember what it was like to play outside as a child? You may have been a tree climber, a ball player, an explorer in the forest... or even a playground queen or king. Have you ever found your special spot and just sat quietly until your family called you in? Regardless of how you spent your days outdoors, you almost certainly had more unstructured "outdoor time" than your current students or your children.

The children of today have full agendas. As a result of school, scheduled activities, television, computers, and cell phones, they do not have much free time. It is no wonder that more and more children are losing touch with natural spaces such as our forests - and yet studies have shown that spending time in natural spaces is beneficial for both children and adults. Natural spacesreduce stress and improve concentration and productivity. Therefore, assisting children to find their forest - their place in nature, embodied in their hearts, wherever they may be - can offer significant benefits.

It is our right to use and enjoy public forests. The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public lands owned by all of us. The number increases substantially when you include local and state natural areas in the calculation. Research has shown that children who have experienced outdoor activities with a mentor as children are more likely to become environmentally aware and involved as adults. Finding My Forest provides the tools you need to integrate the wonder of our forests directly into your classroom.

“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, Author, Silent Spring Please participate in the movement to engage our nation’s students in forests and natural spaces. Create the next generation of environmental stewards to ensure that generations to come can benefit from a lifetime connection to nature. Check out this video to learn what you can do in your role as a parent or teacher to increase your children's exposure to nature and benefit their minds, bodies, and souls. Let's Go Outside Video on YouTube