The 11/3/2002 Sunday Union Tribune had an editorial by Richard Louv, titled "Banning Our Children From Nature".

Allow me to quote Mr. Louv beginning sentences.

"Forget the national crisis in affordable housing. The real threat to modern sanity is the treehouse shortage. Here's the context: It's now virtually illegal for kids to play outdoors in nature, or so potentially litigious that Nintendo is guaranteed to rule".

Mr. Louv continues: "At California's Oceano Dunes region, flying kites has been banned, because kites frighten a protected species of shore bird, the snowy plover". Mr. Louv goes on by identifying large camping area enclosures in the Cleveland and Angeles National Forests for a toad species to have an uninterrupted breeding season.

Mr. Louv admits that population density and open land overuse is an issue, but he gets specific on the causes of lost open play area. "But the style of development, which favors decapitated hills, artificial landscaping, postage-stamp yards and few natural play areas. Furthermore, most new developments in America are controlled by strict covenants that discourage or ban the kind of play that you and I enjoyed as children. Today, 47 million Americans live in homes ruled by condominium, cooperative and homeowners associations". That's about one seventh of us.

I watched 2 kids climb a pine tree near Descanso today, in a private campground. I had 3 thoughts as I watched them folic in the branches: be careful, learn something from this act, and hurry down before some anal authority figure comes along and gives you grief.

Mr. Louv continues: "As the disappearance of proximate, accessible open space escalates, the demand for natural places soars, local fauna die or relocate (from development; my note) and nature-hungry people follow in their four-wheel drive vehicles. The logical regulatory message, then, is clear: Nature is to be seen, not hurt. Nor touched".

Mr. Louv cites tree climbing or disturbing animals as against statutes in San Diego City Parks. He quotes a ranger: a new "level of responsibility comes at an early age. That they can enjoy nature but tread lightly". I paraphrase: to tread not at all. Mr. Louv concludes: "free-range child's play is unwelcome and slightly unsavory".

Every politician who cares about his or her reelection campaign, in fact, everyone publicly advocating something says "we should do this or that for the children". It tugs at our heartstrings and makes us hopeful for the future. But based on this wall being built between the outdoors and our children, do we have any reason to be hopeful at all?

How can you appreciate "there", when you can not get there from here and, even if you could, you can not touch, get close, or certainly learn from what's out "there"? My respect for nature comes from hands-on experience. My respect has to be earned, even though respect is demanded, by legislation and litigation. I never wrote a blank check so that everything needing it's own space will just be given all my respect, without my permission. The toad has my respect because of many down-in-the-dirt nose-to-nose encounters. The garter snake got picked up, handled, and admired. The tortoises that lived with my dogs and my kids. The lost baby birds got raised with an eye-dropper, the chipmunk was caught, studied, and release; angrily chirping the whole time. The trees were climbed and the tree houses built. We grew up in a paradise, but today's kids grow up in a prison.

Remember when a fat kid was "THE FAT KID"? Now obese children are a large chunk of the population. Remember roaming free, sand-lot baseball, being outside from dawn to dusk, drinking from a garden hose in a neighbor's yard, skinned knees, and being so dirty that Mom could not recognize her own child? That jar of poliwogs next to your bed; or fireflies? Falling out of trees? That shoebox with the air holes that kept Mom from coming into your room? Eating what nature grows? Oh to drag yourself home at dusk, stained, filthy, bloody, bruised, and grinning from ear-to-ear with pockets full of nature's miracles.

Now even classic playground equipment is too dangerous and being out of your parent's, coach's, or teacher's sight is perilous. Why would kids who cannot climb a tree, care about the tree? Or that they cannot go to where the toad is, pick it up, warts and all, ever care what happens to the toad? Or a forest? Or a dune?

Someday, and maybe soon, when all this walled-off nature has zero interaction with humanity, it will be eliminated through priorities, greed by it's self-appointed stewards, well-meaning intent, or just neglect. But, then again, why would we care? To us it was eliminated a long time ago.

Be sure to read Mr. Louv's companion editorial in today's Union Tribune.

An excellent post. I am lucky to live in an area where we still have deer wander down the road and an occasional mountain lion harrassing the chicken population. I ran around the surrounding countryside from dawn to dusk and then some. I think that's a large reason why I'm here on this board learning about Glamis and also why I am involved with many fights to save Glamis. Maybe if you've never heard the rapid thump thump of quail wings at dusk or witnessed a raptor streak into the brush after it's dinner or even come home with the smell of sage in your clothes, you wouldn't care about saving or even seeing these things. I care though and will do my best to keep thick skulled people from taking these things away from me.

This post goes to the heart of my belief's! I am also lucky to live in an area where in just a few minutes drive, I can be out in an open area! Away from the noise, hustle, traffic and all the other trapping's of modern life! I feel bad for those who must live in the city! They truly don't know what they're missing! I do know that if "GREEN INC." gets their way, we will all be corralled into a city somewhere, and no one will know the joy of the open!

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

This post really hit home. I just recently drove thru Kelso Dunes on my way to Palm Springs. No one there.....

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Mr. Louv continues: "At California's Oceano Dunes region, flying kites has been banned, because kites frighten a protected species of shore bird, the snowy plover".

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and there's nowhere else to fly kites?

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Mr. Louv goes on by identifying large camping area enclosures in the Cleveland and Angeles National Forests for a toad species to have an uninterrupted breeding season.

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this is a seasonal restriction legally imposed by scientists that work to protect the environment that belongs to and sustains all of us

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Mr. Louv admits that population density and open land overuse is an issue,

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how does he address this issue?

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"But the style of development, which favors decapitated hills, artificial landscaping, postage-stamp yards and few natural play areas. Furthermore, most new developments in America are controlled by strict covenants that discourage or ban the kind of play that you and I enjoyed as children. Today, 47 million Americans live in homes ruled by condominium, cooperative and homeowners associations". That's about one seventh of us.

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the issue of urban sprawl is something the Sierra Club addresses. We should all get behind efforts to make "smart growth" the model for development.

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I watched 2 kids climb a pine tree near Descanso today, in a private campground. I had 3 thoughts as I watched them folic in the branches: be careful, learn something from this act, and hurry down before some anal authority figure comes along and gives you grief.

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the activities causing closures are usually related to motorized recreational abuse of sensitive land, not climbing trees.

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Mr. Louv continues: "As the disappearance of proximate, accessible open space escalates, the demand for natural places soars, local fauna die or relocate (from development; my note) and nature-hungry people follow in their four-wheel drive vehicles. The logical regulatory message, then, is clear: Nature is to be seen, not hurt. Nor touched".

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not too logical

what is logical is that the off-roaders making trails in nature prepare the natural landscape for development, since it's no longer beautiful to look at and no longer supports a viable wildlife habitat.

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Mr. Louv concludes: "free-range child's play is unwelcome and slightly unsavory".

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this conclusion is not based on facts. Children don't drive anyway. People on foot or horseback are free in wander about in wilderness areas.

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But based on this wall being built between the outdoors and our children, do we have any reason to be hopeful at all?

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whatever "wall" exists in our debate was put there to protect land from abuse by off-road motorized rec. Children can walk anywhere they want and fly kites and climb trees and catch frogs. The Green groups want to make sure there will be frogs to catch and trees to climb for future generations.

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My respect for nature comes from hands-on experience.

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so throw away your sand tires and walk! you can enjoy nature and leave a much smaller footprint.

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Remember when a fat kid was "THE FAT KID"? Now obese children are a large chunk of the population.

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let them go for a walk in, not ride through nature.

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Why would kids who cannot climb a tree, care about the tree? Or that they cannot go to where the toad is, pick it up, warts and all, ever care what happens to the toad? Or a forest? Or a dune?

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access is legal and abundant for these activities, though they are threatened by OHV impacts.

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Maybe if you've never heard the rapid thump thump of quail wings at dusk or witnessed a raptor streak into the brush after it's dinner or even come home with the smell of sage in your clothes, you wouldn't care about saving or even seeing these things. I care though and will do my best to keep thick skulled people from taking these things away from me.

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I couldn't have said it better! Motorized rec negatively affects all the the things you noted, Fireball.

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This post goes to the heart of my belief's! I am also lucky to live in an area where in just a few minutes drive, I can be out in an open area! Away from the noise, hustle, traffic and all the other trapping's of modern life!

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according to your own stories here, you bring trappings of modern life (your toys) into nature all the time!

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I do know that if "GREEN INC." gets their way, we will all be corralled into a city somewhere, and no one will know the joy of the open!

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"green inc" is the only one actively working to save areas from destruction by development and inappropriate recreation.

[ 11-12-2002, 07:44 AM: Message edited by: Bluesky ]