The Cause

 

What is the Get Outdoors! OC?

• An initiative to encourage families and their children to spend more time outside playing in, learning from, and developing a personal connection to nature in Orange County's outdoor resources.
• The impetus for this initiative is Richard Louv's 2005 bestseller, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children form Nature Deficit Disorder. The book has sparked a nation-wide movement and numerous local initiatives to promote getting families and children back into the outdoors to play, learn, and develop a connection that will help ensure that future generations will love and protect nature.

 

Governor Schwarzenegger has proclaimed a California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. This movement has the growing support of the nations' health care community, educators, and community and cultural organizations.

 

Why is this important to Orange County\'™s families and children?

• A growing number of studies show that nature-based activities and outdoor play have positive impacts in these areas and help strengthen communities and families. Studies also show that children are spending less time in the outdoors and that this is having a detrimental effect on their physical and mental health, and on their educational outcomes.