The power of nature to inspire

Fifth grade student from Porterville on seeing the creek and climbing down into the creek bed:
"I will remember this until the day I die!" Nature inspires us in unimaginable ways. To a child with "nature deficit disorder," it is transformational.

Favorite kid remarks and conversations in the natural world

All of these were heard during creek exploration behind the Museum of Natural History in Santa Barbara. We have Mission Creek and 4 acres of undeveloped oak woodland right in the middle of our city. To kids who have no experience outside, this is an adventure.

• "Is this nature?" -- 7 year old standing by creek
• "We're in the wilderness!" 9 year old ignoring the buildings
  
• "How do you get on the rocks?" "You climb." "How?" - 7 yr old who had never climbed on a boulder.
• "We're in the jungle? Was that a monkey?"
• "Are there piranha in the creek? Are there sharks in the creek?" Kids know more about the rain forest than their own backyards.
  
• "Thank you for letting us be in real nature."
• "This is better than Disney Land!"
  
• about an earthworm --"Will it bite? Is it poisonous?" Same comments about every living organism.
  
• "I feel free and alive!"
• on finding a frog with part of the tadpole tail still showing - "Metamorphosis just blows my mind!" age 8
• "My mother doesn't want me to get dirty." "Is your mother here?" "No." "Well then...""
• "Where are the frogs?" "You have to find them." "But where are they?" "Aisle 10!" The concept of actively making your own discoveries is new to most kids.
• "I feel like a real scientist exploring the creek." 9yr old girl

Getting Kids Outdoors