Wet Walking

Despite the lingering clouds and dampness, we and some other hearty city-folk ventured out for our weekly nature walk today. We were joined by the city naturalist which always adds to our learning and discovery.

Most of our fun, though, centered around puddle-stomping, sloshing through wet and muddy grass, and picking wildflowers by the marsh.

I just began reading, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv. The author makes the point that many children today aren't exposed to enough unstructured, outdoor play time in nature and, Louv claims, this deficit can lead to many childhood behavioral and health problems.

Whether or not a book says it's good for us, I can't imagine a better classroom for kids than the outdoors. And even though we city-dwellers are surrounded by concrete and cars, welcoming green spaces can be found in almost every city.