Page 19 - NatureStart Network

CHAPTER 3
Nature Play in the Life of the City
“The stars, acorns, kites, a magnifying glass, bugs, birds, and even ice can teach
us the way the world works.”
“I don’t care what town you’re born in, what city, what
country. If you’re a child, you are curious about your
environment. You’re overturning rocks. You’re plucking
leaves off of trees and petals off of flowers, looking inside,
and you’re doing things that create disorder in the lives of
the adults around you.”
–Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist Network we have sought to engage stakeholders, leverage
“I gained a lot of insight from the different wonderful
people participating in the training. I gained a sense of
comfort to learn that there are so many different things to
do in nature without having to go to a nature place such as
the forest preserve; learning can happen in one’s own back
yard. However, I learned that the comrades from the Forest
Preserve have so many wonderful resources for families and
activities in which they can take part. I learned that as
adults, we need to see what children see to facilitate their
learning experiences. I learned that as guiding adults in
education, we can learn how to provide the resources and
support a child’s learning while omitting the strong belief
of ‘I teach you,’ when in reality we are partners with the
children through their process of development.”
–El Valor NatureStart participant
— 17 —
–BARBARA BRENNER, AUTHOR
The United Nations special report Children in an Urban
World: The State of the World’s Children emphasizes
that we live in an increasingly urbanized world with a
majority of children, youth, and their families growing
up and living in cities. Furthermore, access to safe green
spaces can vary greatly across city neighborhoods and
within urban environments. Through the NatureStart
partnerships, and build networks that increase access to
natural spaces, opportunities, and experiences within
urban ecosystems. As education professionals we challenge
ourselves to provide opportunities to explore, investigate,
and play in the “nature at their doorstep” that exists
even within underserved neighborhoods. We actively
work to increase our awareness and understanding of
the importance of experiencing and exploring the nature
in urban city environments. We continue to develop
partnerships and stakeholders that support nature play
and exploration in diverse communities.
In Conversation with Louise Chawla, PhD
Louise Chawla is a longtime friend and collaborator
with the Chicago Zoological Society. She is a professor
in the Environmental Design Program at the University
of Colorado Boulder; associate director of the Children,