Sponsored by:

Turtle Point Environmental Science Center

in collaboration with

Project Community (21st Century Community Learning Centers)

& Discovering Alabama

Why? Nature Deficit Disorder

A description of the human costs of alienation from the natural world

Caused by: Urbanization; parental fears; television & computers; lack of parental

involvement

Fact:

•  25% of Alabama's children have no after school supervision

•  35% of children spend more than 5 hours per day watching TV

Why Get Involved?

Nature is therapy for:

Obesity

Fact: Childhood obesity rates are rising

•  35% of Alabama's 10 to 17 year olds are overweight or obese

•  29% of Alabama's adults are overweight or obese

•  Obesity leads to heart disease, diabetes, & many other problems

•  This generation of American children may be the first with a life expectancy shorter than their parents

•  40% of the average families' food budget is spent on fast food

ADD/ADHD

Fact: ADHD diagnoses are rising & so are the numbers of prescriptions for children

•  18,534 students in the Alabama School systems are being treated for ADHD

•  The use of stimulant medication to treat ADHD increased 600% in a 5 year period

•  Children with more exposure to nature have fewer behavioral conduct disorders

Depression

Fact: Greenspaces can boost mood and decrease depression

•  Approximately one-third of students need counseling for their depression

Family Relationships

•  Spending time with your child improves your relationship and provides much-needed bonding time

Interacting with Nature

•  Improves the capacity to pay attention

•  Helps people recover from normal psychological wear & tear

•  Environment-based education dramatically improves test scores, problem solving,

decision making, & critical thinking skills