ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠAs we move into the beautiful weather of fall, I was reminded of an article I recently read entitled “Nature Deficit Disorder.” I came across it in a newsletter we get from the organic farm cooperative that my family belongs to, from which we get a weekly “share” of produce in exchange for underwriting a portion of the farmer's annual expenses. The article brought up a good point, that given our modern, fast-paced, over-scheduled, plugged-in lifestyles, it is all too easy for our children - and us - to become alienated from the natural world… even here on the bucolic Eastern Shore.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠThe article cited Rachel Carson's Sense of Wonder, stating that “All it takes is an understanding heart, a curious mind, and a willingness to let a child become freely and completely absorbed in exploring nature… Exploring nature is largely a matter of becoming receptive to what lies around you. It is learning again to use your eyes, ears, nostrils, and finger tips.” It suggested simple activities as a way to rekindle this exploration with children: sharing the growth of a plant from a seed, examining the life cycle of insects, or using a magnifying glass to examine things like leaves or snowflakes. “The real challenge,” the article maintained, “is not finding things to look at, but giving them our full attention when we are distanced by a media-driven, entertainment-focused culture.”
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠPart of what we try to do at The Country School through our science and environmental education programs is to instill within our children a sense of stewardship for the environment. The news regularly reminds us how urgent this is. But just as important is nurturing that basic “sense of wonder,” those awe-inspired questions and exclamations, that common exploration that can lead to stronger family bonds, indelible childhood memories, and, ultimately, an appreciation for how critical but tenuous it can be to seek an environmentally sustainable lifestyle.