Leave No Child Inside photo contest

[CouesWhitetail]

Not sure if they want hunting photos since it says the theme is to show kids enjoying state,city and national parks, but I bet you guys have some great pics of your kids playing outside in parks. Read the press release and call the phone number for more info.

 

Amanda

 

 

 

http://www.pr.state.az.us/pressrelease/07a...007_photos.html

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE PARKS

For Immediate Release

Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partnerships.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228- 8518, or Monica Enriquez at (602) 542-6997? both at pio at azstateparks.gov

**********

 

Submit Photos for Arizona Parks

and Recreation Association's

Leave No Child Inside Photo Contest

 

(Phoenix, Arizona - December 10, 2007) - Photos of nature and children enjoying outdoor environments are being sought for Arizona Parks and Recreation's "Leave No Child Inside" photo contest. Start taking pictures today as entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2008!

 

The purpose of the "Leave No Child Inside" theme is to encourage parents to take their children to National, State, County and City parks to enjoy nature and recreate in Arizona's natural areas. According to Richard Louv's testimony to the Department of the Interior in February, "In just a few decades, the way children understand and experience their neighborhoods and the natural world has changed radically. Even as children become more aware of global threats to the environment, their physical contact, their intimacy with nature, is fading."

 

Louv said, "Only 6 percent of children from nine to thirteen-years-old play outside on their own. Research indicates there is a dramatic decline in outdoor activities such as swimming and fishing and camping is down. Even bike riding is down 31 percent since 1995. In San Diego researchers have found that 90 percent of inner-city kids do not know how to swim and 34 percent have never been to the beach."

 

Louv goes on to explain that urban and even rural parents cite reasons such as disappearing natural areas, competition from electronics, dangerous traffic, homework and other pressures. Stranger-danger is also a key factor. Of course the physical benefits of being in an outdoor environment for children are obvious, but other benefits are subtle, such as the development of cognitive functioning. The California Department of Education found that students in outdoor science programs improved their science testing scores by 27 percent.

 

But another danger that conservationists see is that since 1970, undergraduate enrollment in conservation and natural resource programs fell by half according to a professor at Utah State's College of Natural Resources.

Idealistic, outdoor-oriented young adults used to be drawn to government careers in conservation, but that trend is fading and the brain drain of boomers and enthusiasm for protection of the environment will drain away.

 

You can help re-energize the effort to get children outdoors by participating in this photo contest! Prizes will be awarded for the best photos. Categories for photos include Urban Experience, Leave No Inner Child Inside, Kids and Critters and Most Unique Experience.

 

Photos will be displayed at the 2008 Arizona Parks and Recreation Conference at the Camelback Inn in August 2008. Submitted photographs must be 4x6 and may be either color or black and white. For details on the photo contest visit www.azpra.org or call (602) 335-1962.

 

For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit the website at www.azstateparks.com.

 

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