Soccer Kids into the Woods project receives Funding

To Help Establish Local Kids’ Natural Resource Programs

Golden Pond, KY – The U.S. Forest Service recently awarded $36,400 to the Soccer Kids into the Woods project at Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area. The award is in support of conservation education programs that will provide local community children more opportunities to experience the great outdoors, learn about nature, and build a lasting commitment to conservation and land stewardship.

“The value of expanding our programs for children must not be underestimated,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Young people are tomorrow’s stewards of our public lands, and we have a duty to help them develop a lasting connection and passion for conservation of America’s great outdoors.” [Read more]

Debut of New Ads to encourage children to play outdoors coincides with National Get Outdoors Day

USDA Forest Service and Ad Council Join DreamWorks Animation to Launch New PSAs Featuring Shrek to Help Get Children Outside and Re-connected with Nature

Washington, DC — In an effort to encourage children to spend more time outdoors and re-connect with nature, the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council are joining DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring characters from DreamWorks Animation’s beloved Shrek films. Hank Kashdan, Associate Chief of the Forest Service, unveiled the PSAs on June 11th at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in coordination with National Get Outdoors Day. The ads will be distributed to media outlets nationwide this week.

Children in the U.S. spend fifty percent less time outdoors than they did twenty years ago, according to the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. As a result of this limited interaction with the outdoors, many children are unaware of the benefits that nature provides, including improving their physical and mental health and emotional well-being. Research shows that children who play outside have lower stress levels and more active imaginations, become fitter and leaner, develop stronger immune systems and are more likely to become environmentally conscious in the future.

[Read more]