Exposing Children to Nature

I am an environmental educator.  That is my job.  I teach young people about how they can take better care of the Earth.  Teaching this ethic to my son, however, seems evasive.  Why?

We go on hikes and I take him for walks to the beach on a regular basis.  But stopping to smell the roses doesn't always fall into the scheduled set of activities.  We've got to get the hike done so we can change diapers, eat lunch and then have a nap.  Mommy really needs a nap.

So, the other day, when we were out walking I realized just how freaking stressful I was making everyone, including our dog, Chulo.  The incessant "come on!", "hurry up!" and "Ziggy!" was raking on everyone's nerves.

I wondered what it must be like to have two children and maybe (Goddess forgive us) two dogs....how crazy would things become??

And then it hit me.  It isn't about the destination or the final photo with the view or even the freakin' photo with the child picking his pants near the last boulder.  It's about the experience.  Stop, look, listen to the babbling brook, the birds in the trees, let Chulo run free and not worry if he will ever come back.  He will.  He always does.  Enjoy this time to be together, outside in nature, in of all freakin' places, Southern California....where you'd think the antithesis of outdoor prevails.

But, shsssh.....there is some amazing wilderness down here.  Just don't let any one else know!

I just finished giving 100 presentations at a local public elementary school.  I'd say at least 25% of the students came up to me afterward and hugged me.  Some saying thanks for the presentation...  It was an awesome reminder of how innocence is something we lose with age and how important it is for the survival of our species.