Kalamazoo No Child Left Inside Initiative
Kalamazoo was selected by the Children & Nature Network & W.K. Kellogg Foundation as one of three communities in Michigan to design, facilitate and implement a community-based process for improving the lives of vulnerable children. The aim of the process is to shape happier, healthier, kids who do better in school, through direct connections with the outdoors in their everyday lives. Research has shown that childhood obesity, diabetes, depression and attention deficit disorders may be improved by reversing the current trends which disconnect children from nature.
You are invited to join the community effort for the Kalamazoo No Child Left Inside Initiative. Please see the areas of concentration listed below. If you or your organization would like to work on or support one or more of these exciting plans to help get our children back outside and connected to nature let us know and we will get you connected.
Goal 1: To develop and implement a communication plan that focuses on the media, healthcare, education, recreation, public safety, parents and young people.
Stakeholders needed to develop a comprehensive plan to identify target audiences and strategies on how to reach them
Goal 2: Improving the connection within Kalamazoo County between people and natural places.
Use the green mapping tool and other community resources to identify usable green spaces. Determine what is needed to enhance these spaces for community availability and use.
Goal 3: To positively affect the health of our children by having them spend regular time in nature.
Use existing programs and ideas such as physicians prescribing time outdoors as part of well child checkups to improve the health of children in Kalamazoo County.
Engage education and faith communities to re-incorporate spending time outdoors into the community culture.
Kalamazoo No Child Left Inside 2010 Community Update click here.
Contact Lisa Panich at (269) 381-1574 ext. 38 or click here to email