I have frequently drawn attention to the efforts of specific elements
within the anti-environmental wreckreation industry to turn Richard Louv's
book " Last Child
in the Woods" into the engine for the advancement of their
commercialization, privatization, motorization agenda. They are
succeeding.
Appended are two related items. The first is an invitation to the American
Recreation Coalition's upcoming Recreation Exchange. On Tuesday May 22nd at
ARC's event "Gail Kimbell, Chief of the Forest Service, will outline steps by
the agency and its partners to alter the path reported by Louv under an
initiative called More Kids in the Woods."
Two days later, the House Resources Committee will hold an Oversight
Hearing titled "No Child Left Inside: Reconnecting Kids with the
Outdoors." The Witness List is, at this point in time, still to be
announced.
I do not disagree with Louv's message.
I am, however, deeply concerned with how industry latched onto it and is
currently using the children issue to further the Corporate Takeover of
Nature and the Disneyfication of the Wild.
Scott
--- begin quoted from American Recreation Coalition ---
AMERICAN RECREATION COALITION
MAY 2007 RECREATION
EXCHANGE
Special Topic: Last Child in the Woods: A Warning and a
Response
With Special Guest: Richard Louv, Author, Last Child In the
Woods
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 22, 2007; 12:00 p.m. -
2:15 p.m.
PLACE: USDA Administration Building
Patio
14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C.
COST: $50 per person for non-Recreation Exchange
subscribers
RSVP: By noon on Thursday, May 17 to (202)
682-9530 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
You are invited to attend a very special May Recreation Exchange. Join
Members of Congress and federal agency leaders to hear Richard Louv, author of
Last Child in the Woods, and the new Chief of the Forest Service, Gail Kimbell,
addressing Nature Deficit Disorder and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
response to an issue which has recently gained significant national attention.
Richard Louv will summarize the findings reported in his book, including a
description of Nature Deficit Disorder attributable to a dramatic decline in
unstructured, active outdoor experiences. His writings have been the subject of
several recent national meetings, including a session in September 2006 at the
National Conservation Training Center. Mr. Louv describes the factors which
have contributed to the decline in outdoor activity, ranging from the lure of
new indoor technologies to lifestyle changes to parent fears of child abusers. [Note: During lunch, Richard Louv will sign his book for those contributing to
the DC WOW-Wonderful Outdoor World program.]
Gail Kimbell, Chief of the Forest Service, will then outline steps by the
agency and its partners to alter the path reported by Louv under an initiative
called "More Kids in the Woods." She will announce the first recipients of
$500,000 in Challenge-Cost Share grants awarded to field units to initiate and
grow programs which provide quality outdoor experiences for America's youth. The Chief and others will also report on suggestions generated through the
Recreation Forums held during the first four months of 2007.
Discussion of children and nature initiatives will follow over a lunch,
which will also feature youth from key organizations. Following lunch,
participants will reconvene to hear Dr. Deborah Chavez of the USDA's Pacific
Southwest Research Station report on research underway to understand ways to
excite kids about time outdoors.
Please call us at 202-682-9530 or send an e-mail to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
by noon on
Thursday, May 17 to let us know your plans. Note: USDA Security requires that
you a present photo ID for entrance to this event.
--- END ---
--- begin quoted from House Resources Committee ---
May 24,
2007 The House Natural Resources Committee,
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, led by Rep. Raúl
Grijalva (D-AZ), and Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, led by Del.
Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), will hold a joint oversight hearing entitled, “No
Child Left Inside: Reconnecting Kids with the Outdoors.”
Subject:
House Subcommittee on National
Parks, Forests and Public Lands
House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and
Oceans
“No Child Left Inside: Reconnecting Kids with the
Outdoors”
When: Thursday, May 24, 2007, at
10:00 a.m.
Where: Room 1324 Longworth House
Office Building
Witnesses: TBA
The hearing will be
webcast live on the Committee’s web site at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov.
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- Privatization 
