EARTHCHAT: Nature Deficit Disorder

7 & 8 Oct: Missed the show? Listen back here.

Nature Deficit Disorder - the human costs of alienation from nature. An urgent problem that has been growing but we’ve had no language for until 2005 when author, Richard Louv, coined this term ‘nature deficit disorder’ in his book “Last Child in the Woods”. It caught on, and is now a rallying cry for an international movement to connect children to the rest of nature. Since then, this New Nature Movement has broadened to include adults and whole communities. “It is not meant to be a medical diagnosis, (although perhaps it should be)” says Louv.

Ruth’s guests this week bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and inspiration from creating opportunities for children and adults, (separately and together), to reconnect with the natural world.

We begin with Early Childhood Educator, Katie Long, who is working in Euroa with the Arboretum’s Bush Kinder as well as one on one with children as a Play Therapist. Early childhood services increasingly acknowledging that kids need to have regular outside time, and this is also proving to be a successful antidote to the increasing anxiety that’s showing up in children. Children’s play develops and expands - their imagination broadens - the ability to observe and learn about the natural world increases - they develop resilience, confidence, and curiosity - a willingness to experiment, and more. Katie will elaborate on these and other health and well being benefits.

In our second segment Alison Hill, managing director of the People and Parks Foundation, an Australian environment and health charity in Melbourne, returns to EarthChat to fill us in on how this year’s Nature Pact is rolling out. Now in its third year, this four week program invites people to spend more intentional time connecting with nature. “Why? Because we are all part of nature, and nature connects, heals, and sustains us all”.

Alison Hill is a passionate advocate for connecting people to nature for both health and wellbeing, and environmental outcomes. “Healthy Humans Need Healthy Habitats to Survive and Thrive.”

In our third and final segment we are joined by Carol Crowe who has worked for many years with groups to find caring and respectful ways to be in relationship with the natural environment. Currently she is facilitating a series of art in nature workshops under the auspices of the Strathbogie Chapter of the Conservation Management Network. Led by professional art tutors, experienced and inexperienced artists are invited to create art while on country while connecting with the natural world. Participants find their artwork comes alive when drawing and painting outdoors, and how readily it flows compared with when they are in their indoor studios.

Join us to hear more about the many joys and benefits of actively living life in relationship with the natural world.

Tune in to BEAM's radio program EarthChat each Friday on Seymour FM at 10am or to the repeat on Saturday at 8am.

Radio: Seymour FM 103.9 MHz

Stream: www.seymourfm.com.au/audio-player.html

Podcasts: www.beam.org.au/earthchat