Get Outdoors, Michigan! Working Summit – November 5, 2009

For parents, educators, school administrators, natural resources professionals, local government officials, health advocates, childcare providers, and others concerned about the future of our children in the outdoors.

SILVER CITY, MI - Wednesday, October 14, 2009 – Recent scientific research shows that today's children are gravitating away from outdoor experiences towards a virtual indoor reality and that this disconnect from nature has serious long-term implications for the health and well-being of our children. Get Outdoors, Michigan! is a coalition of western Upper Peninsula agencies, education organizations, and businesses working to promote opportunities for our children to experience nature and outdoor play in their communities, with their families, and in their classrooms. Would you like to learn more about this issue? Are you interested in working with others in your community to get kids outdoors? The Get Outdoors, Michigan! Working Summit is designed address these issues and more.

“Studies show that kids who play outside are healthier, more creative, and do better in school,” said Ontonagon District Ranger Darla Lenz. The Get Outdoors, Michigan! Working Summit is designed to get all of our partners together to help address the lack of outdoor experiences. “We’re interested in working together, learning from each other, and sharing ideas on how we can provide outdoor opportunities to our children.”

Set for November 5, 2009, in Silver City, Michigan, the one-day working summit will provide information to help communities, educators, healthcare and childcare providers. The summit will include panel discussions, presentations, and working groups. “We’re excited to be bringing in subject matter experts, who will be spending the day with us to answer questions and talk about innovative ways to address this problem,” Lenz added. “Anyone who has an interest in this subject is invited to attend.”

Registration for the Working Summit can be done by contacting Rachel Carpenter, Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education, at 906-487-3341 or via e-mail to rmcarpen@mtu.edu. The cost is $12.50 and includes all panel discussions, presentations, and lunch. The deadline to register is November 2, 2009.

To learn more about the Working Summit, call Darla Lenz, US Forest Service District Ranger, at 906-884-2085 or visit our Get Outdoors Western U.P. group on Facebook or view more information at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/. We look forward to seeing you!