Publications Resources

Supporting the importance of NATURE

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,
Richard Louv, 2008

“In this landmark work, Richard Louv brings together cutting-edge studies that point to direct exposure to nature as essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. Last Child in the Woods reflects the growing body of evidence linking the lack of nature in children’s lives and the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Louv’s message has galvanized an international back-to-nature campaign and become an international force for change. His book will change the way you think about our future and the future of our children.”

A Natural Sense of Wonder: Connecting Kids with Nature through the Seasons,
Rick Van Noy, 2008

From the backyard to the hiking trail, in a tide pool and a tree house, in the wild and in town, these narrative essays explore the terrain of childhood threatened by the lure of computers and television and by the loss of play habitat. A Natural Sense of Wonder suggests ways we all can experience the wonder found only in the natural world.

Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms: Designing and Implementing Child-Centered Learning Environments, Eric M. Nelson, MA

Transform outdoor spaces into learning environments where children can enjoy a full range of activities as they spend quality time in nature. This book is filled with guidance to help you plan, design, and create an outdoor learning program that is a rich, thoughtfully equipped, natural extension of your indoor curriculum.

Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment, and the Human Prospect,
David Orr, 2004

Noted environmental educator David W. Orr focuses not on problems in education, but on the problem of education. Much of what has gone wrong with the world, he argues, is the result of inadequate and misdirected education that: alienates us from life in the name of human domination; causes students to worry about how to make a living before they know who they are; overemphasizes success and careers; separates feeling from intellect and the practical from the theoretical; deadens the sense of wonder for the created world. Orr concludes by presenting concrete proposals for reorganizing the curriculum to draw out our affinity for life.

The Hunter’s Trance: Nature, Spirit & Ecology, Carl Von Essen, 2007

This book explores the phenomenon of nature mysticism – spiritual moments inspired by the wonder of our natural world. It features the recorded experiences of outdoors people and discusses our psychic and biological roots, as well as studying the contribution of neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology to the debate.

I Love Dirt! 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature,
Jennifer Ward, 2008

I Love Dirt! presents 52 open-ended activities to help you engage your child in the outdoors. No matter what your location—from a small patch of green in the city to the wide-open meadows of the country—each activity is meant to promote exploration, stimulate imagination, and heighten a child’s sense of wonder.

The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean Giono, 2007

Twenty years ago, Chelsea Green published the first trade edition of The Man Who Planted Trees, a timeless eco-fable about what one person can do to restore the earth. The hero of the story, Elzéard Bouffier, spent his life planting one hundred acorns a day in a desolate, barren section of Provence in the south of France. The result was a total transformation of the landscape — from one devoid of life, with miserable, contentious inhabitants, to one filled with the scent of flowers, the songs of birds, and fresh, flowing water.

The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder
Richard Louv, 2011

This New Nature Movement taps into the restorative powers of the natural world to boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv offers renewed optimism while challenging us to rethink the way we live.