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Richard Louv Celebrates No Child Left Inside Weekend

Catamount Institute

October 3, 2008

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Award-winning author Richard Louv, whose national best-selling Last Child in the Woods has sparked a growing movement against "nature-deficit disorder" in kids over-saturated by video games and TV, brings his provocative message to the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs. Louv is the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Audubon Medal for his efforts to get more children out into nature and will speak as the kickoff event for "No Child Left Inside Weekend" across the Pikes Peak region.

"An Evening With Richard Louv" on Friday, October 3, 2008 will begin in the Pikes Peak Center when the doors open at 5:30 pm. Over 25 exhibitors will be there with informational booths about the weekend activities and their programs for connecting children with nature outdoors. The presentation will begin at 7:00 pm and Mr. Louv will then do book signings after the program in Studio B. His book will be available for purchase with some copies pre-signed.

Throughout the region on October 4th and 5th, there will be activities for families in the outdoors. In Teller County; Mueller State Park, Pikes Peak Historical Society, Cripple Creek, Sanborn Western Camps and the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will offer a variety of activities. In El Paso County; Catamount Institute, Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, the Pikes Peak group of the Sierra Club and School in the Woods (D 20) will also offer a variety of activities.

Throughout the state of Colorado on both Saturday and Sunday, if a child brings an adult to any of the 13 National Park Service areas, the adult entry fee will be waived.  All of these scheduled events and other information are listed at nps.gov/flfo .  By offering memorable outdoor experiences for families and children, we hope to instill a sense of appreciation for nature that will last a lifetime.

As a co-founder of the non-profit Children & Nature Network (www.childrenandnature.org), Louv advocates more exposure to nature and the outdoors as an actual right for children, not just a privilege or preference. "I do believe children deserve a connection to nature–as a birthright, as a fundamental part of being human," he says. "The emerging scientific evidence supports the moral imperative, because it underscores the benefits of nature to children, and suggests the negative consequences of nature deficit."

Louv's message–that unstructured play in the outdoors is essential to children's health and well-being–strikes a chord among many, including Eric Cefus, Executive Director of Catamount Institute. Cefus says, “In today’s world education is such a key factor. With our science, technical, math and literacy scores dropping internationally, it is important that we develop a generation of critical thinkers,” Cefus said. “And we know that nature plays such an important role in the education process. Louv’s research focuses on the results of getting kids outdoors to play in the grassy fields, to smell the wildflowers and to hear the wind blow through the trees.  This celebrates the Catamount Institute's mission–to inspire ecological stewardship–and we are so proud to be a sponsor of his visit!"

“An Evening with Richard Louv”is hosted by Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds, the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service, Catamount Institute, Colorado College, Sanborn Western Camps, American Camp Association, Colorado State Parks, El Paso County Nature Centers, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo the Pikes Peak group of the Sierra Club, Teller County Public Health and Ft. Carson.

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• Ticket Info

  Tickets: $2-7

  Info Phone: 719.520.SHOW

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• Dates & Times

  Dates:
  October 3, 2008

  Times:
  7 p.m.

• Venue Info

  Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts

  190 South Cascade Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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• Accessibility Info

  • Assisted Listening System
  • Wheelchair Access

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