N.C. Can and N.C. Zoo Promotes Outdoor Play and Building Connections to Nature

By Kathy Bull 

Asheboro, NC - The recently formed North Carolina Children And Nature (N.C. CAN!) coalition will host its second annual gathering at the North Carolina Zoo on February 18. The meeting will be facilitated by Alan Cooper, National Wildlife Federation and Robin Moore, North Carolina State University’s Natural Learning Institute, and will focus on the development of a strategic plan for N.C. CAN!

Participants will include previous attendees from across the state representing nonprofits, businesses, media, higher education and government agencies. Other professionals in health, education and child development will also be in attendance.

“All interested parties are invited to become part of this historical gathering that will be a basis for significant change for children in North Carolina,” said Kathy Bull, external affairs director for the N.C. Zoo Society, the zoo’s non-profit support organization.
 
“The goal of the N.C. CAN! coalition is to speak as one voice on the importance of promoting outdoor play and building connections to nature for children,” Bull said. “One of the challenges of childhood is developing the ability to translate and interpret experiences; nature provides numerous opportunities through objects that are part of a child’s daily life. A relationship with nature and active outdoor play is important to children’s development — intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically.
 
“It is critical that communities begin to address the issue of children’s disconnection from nature and the negative impact this is having on their physical, intellectual, emotional and social health,” Bull added. “The children of North Carolina need interested citizens to come together, speak on their behalf and take action.”
 
The development of N.C. CAN! began in April 2008, when stakeholders gathered at the N.C. Zoo for a Children And Nature Conference to look at cooperative efforts to promote getting children outdoors and connected to nature. Presentations by speakers from national organizations and organization across North Carolina led to the desire to create a state coalition. Over the ensuing months, a steering committee was formed and began working on the development of a vision, mission statement, guiding principles and an initial strategic plan to bring back to this year’s annual gathering.
 
The North Carolina effort is part of an international movement fueled by the book “No Child Left Inside” by Richard Louv. The N.C. CAN! coalition will be a state partner to the national Children and Nature Network. Sponsors for the project include Food Lion Foundation, Inc and the N.C. Zoological Society. For more information or to become part of N.C. CAN!, contact Kathy Bull at kbull@nczoo.com or call 336-879-7286.
 
The North Carolina Zoological Society is a private, non-profit organization that supports the North Carolina Zoo and its conservation and education initiatives. The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dee A. Freeman, Secretary; Beverly E. Perdue, Governor.