Does Nature Matter? Why aren't we climbing trees, catching lizards, and playing with bugs anymore?

Walking down a hill, you see the red-lined gleam of a snake that slips across your path. You hear a rustling behind you as an animal moves through the brush. Up ahead, the trail declines sharply into a shady canyon overhung by thick, moss-covered tree limbs. Does this scene invite you to forge ahead with curiosity, or incite you to turn around and head for the shelter of your car? For many people in modern society, the unknown wildness of nature can stir up feelings of discomfort, or even fear. This fear stems from the simple fact that humans are unfamiliar with nature to a larger degree than ever before in our history as a species.

As our population grows, open space shrinks. Technological advances help confine our world to offices, cars, classrooms, and living rooms. We spend less time outside, evermore removed from nature. Does it matter?

Gage Dayton will provide a brief overview of the "nature deficit disorder" phenomenon, and focus on why it's important for everyone to get outside and engage in formal or informal nature experiential learning opportunities.