Life, Liberty,
and the Pursuit of Bluegills

The Case for a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights

by Karen Zaworski

A story about the great outdoors: “During the holidays, we debated about purchasing a Wii [video game system] for our daughter, versus buying her actual cross-country skis,” say the parents of 8-year-old Jenna S. “We had both learned to ski as kids, but we wondered, would she use the game more often? Would she truly learn a new skill?

“In the end, we went for the skis. It snowed eight inches one afternoon, so that night after dinner, we bundled up, strapped on our skis, then set off for the park. Jenna caught on quickly and by the time we reached the park she was zooming around, exclaiming about her speed and the shining stars and the sparkling snow. We remember saying, ‘Now this is something a Wii can’t do.’ We skied for an hour, had a great time, and Jenna’s still talking about it.”

Jenna’s parents witnessed a moment all too infrequent in modern kids’ lives: a child having a real experience in nature. As technology and chock-full schedules have replaced unstructured outdoor activities, the notion of playing outside has all but disappeared. The result: 16 percent of American kids are overweight and a majority of them spend 6.5 hours every day in front of some sort of screen. Even sadder is the fact that, according to studies by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control, kids choose video games over bikes by a margin of six to one.

And so it’s come to this: a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. It isn’t a new idea (California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a similar proclamation in July 2007), but it is rather radical, and more than a little ironic: who ever thought we’d have to legislate playtime?

The bill itself is simple, with ten short points that sound almost laughably self-evident. It clarifies the outdoor experiences that every child should have before the age of 12, and it reminds parents that reconnecting children to nature is both easy and inexpensive.

The bill, which isn’t legislation but a statement of public priorities, is backed by research that links outdoor activities to a person’s overall well-being. This is important news for parents, who can forget that an outdoor life is critical to their kids’ physical and emotional development. In short, nature is nurture. Herewith, an annotated look at the bill.

Exercise Your Outdoor Rights!

Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors. Kids and adults can explore on their own or join one of the thousands of programs hosted by the many forest preserve districts, park districts, nature centers, volunteer groups, and environmental organizations in the region. Here’s just a tiny little sampling of the ways to take advantage of our rich nature.

Explore Nature in Your Own Neighborhood

There is so much nature to be enjoyed in any neighborhood: opportunities for climbing, swinging, throwing, poking, hiding, watching, dreaming, and just plain messing around. Any child can make important discoveries—glimpses into the lives of birds, bugs, and plants; understanding food chains and weather patterns. These may launch a lifelong love of plants or birds or bugs or mammals.
 On your own: Take a walk to your local park. For a break from the swingset, check out the flowerbeds, too. And don’t forget about your yard!
 With a group: Pond Explorations. June 13. Discover what’s wet and wild in Lippold Pond in Batavia. Try catching creatures in dip nets, and dig in the muddy banks with the Fox Valley Park District.

Take a Hike

Discover wilderness in a nearby prairie, dune, forest, savanna, or wetland. Different types of plant and animal life can be found year-round in all kinds of habitats. Greet the coming of spring with a picnic, and find flowers in bloom, swollen leaf buds on trees, fish ponds, and birds sitting on their nests. In the middle of March, you should be able to hear chorus frogs — which sound like a thumb being drawn along the teeth of a comb — near creeks or marshy spots. Visit the NatureSound Studio to hear more samples of frog calls.
 On your own: Visit our “Into the Wild” page to find a forest preserve that sounds fun — and directions to get there.
 With a group: Nature Walk at Big Rock. May 24. Join the Forest Preserve District of Kane County for a family hike at one the district’s most interesting preserves. See the Kane County Forest Preserve District’s Spring 2009 Forest Focus newsletter for details.

See the Wild Birds

In May, the warblers migrate. At hotspots such as Montrose Point’s Magic Hedge, you can watch swarms of these colorful birds at eye level. Visit the lakefront on a morning with a warm southwest wind or choose a river on a cool day with the winds out of the east.
 On your own: Head outside with kid-sized binoculars and make a list of the birds you see. Or put out some orange halves to attract nectar-loving birds such as orioles. Peeled bananas attract fruit flies for swallows and hummingbirds.
 With a group: Watch the wacky mating dance of the woodcock with the McHenry County Conservation District. April 14–15 in Cary, IL. Registration required.

Do Some Urban Camping

While many Chicago-region camping opportunities might feel a little less pristine than pitching a tent on the side of Denali, they’re an especially convenient and fun way to introduce camping to a child who’s starting to get into it. While only select preserves allow camping, in some cases, joining a children’s program gets you a special pass.
 On your own: Gather your gear and head to a designated campsite. If neither you nor the kids have ever camped before, seek both gear and advice from an experienced friend first.
 With a group: Urban Campers. Join the Chicago Park District for a 24-hour camping experience in a local park this summer. Ages 9 – 12.