April 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 56

E N G A G I N G C H I L D R E N W I T H N AT U R E

Photo courtesy of Wildlife Explorers New Bedford Parks, Recreation & Beaches

Children in The Wildlife Explorers Program
examine plants at a local park.

with a bit of imagination, a
smidgeon of creativity, a rock, a
stick, some leaves and re-purposed
materials, " says Walker.
In early evaluations of the Nature
Tykes program, parents voiced that the
hour-long program wasn't long enough.
The program is now extended to an
hour and a half and includes a free-play
component, called Hummingbird Time,
where the children can play and interact
with nature as they want to with limited
boundaries and parental involvement.
" We found that parents want to par54

Parks & Recreation

| A P R I L 2 0 1 8 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

ent all the time. They guide, influence,
interject, set boundaries, explain,
wipe, work out problems and say
'don't' a lot. We think that the freedom
to play is important. To run with arms
outstretched. We've watched it build
creativity and compromise, " Walker
continues. Time to play independently can allow children to build relationship skills and develop self-awareness
and control.
Back at the Clark County Wetlands
Park, the program is winding down, but
the children are still full of energy and
conversation. " I want to be an owl, " says
one preschooler, " except for the throwup part. " A young girl speaks up: " I'm
going to be a scientist...or a ballerina. "
In 2014, the Nature Tykes program
was recognized by the Nevada Recreation & Park Society with the Program
Excellence Award. Today, it has a strong
following that includes parents, grandparents and multiple siblings. Diane Arnott has taken two of her grandchildren
through the Nature Tykes program, and
shares the following: " I love the outdoors, and it's good for the kids. They
have time to explore and look for things
- like a treasure hunt. For one of my
grandsons, the freedom of the outdoors
was the biggest draw, for the other, it was
seeing all the animals. "
For Jody Walker, the program's success
is all about the children and imparting
her love of nature. " I wanted to share the
absolute joy I find outdoors and help connect people to the natural world, " she explains. " I want to support parents in their
efforts in raising smart, energetic, creative,
thoughtful children. [An administrator]
once told me, if you're having a good time,
then the program is successful. "
" I am. "
Paula Jacoby-Garrett is a Freelance Writer
based in Las Vegas, Nevada (paula.jacoby.
garrett@gmail.com).



April 2018 - Parks & Recreation

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