I Think I’ll Go Outside for a While

by Lisa Jansen-Rees, Member of the Board, Friends of the Wichitas, and Member of the Board, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates

Has this ever happened to you? You step outside and suddenly, from the deep dark recesses of your mind, a song you haven’t heard in years springs forth. “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning” from Oklahoma. Sunshine On My Shoulders by John Denver. It’s A Beautiful Morning by The Rascals. Researchers tell us there is a very good reason for the phenomenon. Experiencing or viewing nature improves the functioning of both the short-term and working memory centers of the brain. Consequently, time in nature has been shown to improve focus and concentration. It restores cognitive functioning and mental well-being. Time in nature also boosts creativity and problem-solving capabilities.

Knowing this, it’s no wonder that educators, authors, researchers, and organizations like the Children and Nature Network are advocating that parents, teachers, and coaches encourage “more green, less screen” this school year. Although nature can be experienced anywhere, the catch phrase provides an excellent opportunity for refuges, hatcheries, and their Friends groups to collaborate with local schools and youth groups on environmental education that goes well beyond playground time or bio labs. Some examples might include field trips for wildlife-dependent recreation, service projects for habitat restoration, offering outdoor skills building sessions to youth groups, or even age-appropriate, site-specific scavenger hunt sheets for the families visiting your location.

At the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates we know many Friends groups are already helping their refuges and hatcheries implement and sustain these types of initiatives, and we’d love to have you “share the wealth” by visiting our Facebook group and sharing your experience. And if you start your post by bursting out in song, I’ll for sure recognize you as one of my tribe!