Imagine an organization
dedicated to connecting young people with nature through the medium of the
creative arts – wouldn’t that be wonderful?
One group has been working to do just that for over ten years, a society
founded by the incredibly talented nature artist, Robert Bateman. Their motto is “Connect. Create.
Celebrate.” A motto I’m sure many
of you share!
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| I was a lucky child with nature-loving parents. |
So many young people have lost
a connection to our natural world. They tend
to be less active outdoors than previous generations. Parents are often transferred or move from
place to place, and people are leaving rural areas for more urban spaces.
“Stranger danger” is another consideration – what responsible parent wants their children wandering the nearby woods as my generation did? Sadly, our kids are losing that connection, that wonderful feeling of excitement and exploration I loved as I discovered the wonders of nature around me, and that love of place that can nurture us through thick and thin.
“Stranger danger” is another consideration – what responsible parent wants their children wandering the nearby woods as my generation did? Sadly, our kids are losing that connection, that wonderful feeling of excitement and exploration I loved as I discovered the wonders of nature around me, and that love of place that can nurture us through thick and thin.
Their website is called “Get to know: your wild neighbours.” I was honored to be contacted as a
contributor to their Best Practices web page, which you can visit here. The Best Practices page has links to art,
music, photography, writing, and drama activities that combine the creative
arts and nature. It's a great resource
for parents, teachers, and summer camp leaders.
Most recently, Get To Know
(G2K) has sponsored a contest open to all sorts of creative expression by young
people throughout North America: paintings, photography, original music, and
poetry. Visit the 2012 contest gallery
at this link to
see the winners. One of the things I
enjoyed as I browsed through the entries was the inspiration listed by each
individual – it added an extra dimension to the creative work showcased. I also took pleasure in reading the titles of
each work; they often tell a further story and reveal a deeper meaning. If you love to see how kids connect to
nature, you’ll enjoy visiting the gallery!
Elizabeth, this is fantastic!! Bravo :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about you the other day... Summer has been busy and I haven't been able to get around to my virtual friends as much as I'd like. I was able to peak in a bit but not always comment. I got to missing your posts. Hope all is well!
Hi Pam -- and thank you! Thank you too for your kind thoughts; there have been several personal challenges in my life. I hope to get back to my weekly drawing, painting, and posting soon!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been online much at all lately, and hope my online friends know I miss them and their lovely work. :) Best to you all!
What a wonderful organization, and congratulations on being asked to contribute. Robert Bateman is one of my favorite artists--it's awesome that he's part of this.
ReplyDeletehey hey!! this is a very nice website here and I just wanted to comment & say that you've done a great job here! Very nice choice of colors & layout, very easy on the eyes.. Nicely done!…
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy! From what I've read, this organization was started by Robert Bateman out of concern for the loss of connection to nature our kids experience in the world today. There is so much to be gained from nature, but many kids don't have that joy. We need to help them reconnect!
ReplyDelete