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January 9, 2009Vacant Lot Playgroup Update #2 (a.k.a. Dirt Piles)
January 15, 2009Jenny Morgan and Alice Hohl hosted the All-Ohio Children and Nature Summit at the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Conference Wed. Jan. 14. It was a success!
On Monday, we heard from Richard Louv! He was great, and hopefully inspired many people here who went to listen, too.
On Wednesday, we gave a presentation and lots of ideas to parks executives from around the state who are interested in the issue. We highlighted the Natural Play Areas at Metro Parks. We talked about a summer Letterboxing program in the Delaware Preservation Parks. We showed video and images and played music and brainstormed together. We talked about litigation. We talked about tree stumps and forts and streams!
Wednesday, also, we met with our counterparts around the state. Betsy Townsend from Cincinnati, which is THE OLDEST Leave No Child Collaborative in the nation – THE FIRST! Also, we met Dawn Wrench from Earth Day Coalition in Cleveland. Dawn is also the regional director for EECO in her area. Together we shared ideas for coordinating statewide. And together we met with Susan Weber of Local Matters, Joe Heimlich of OSU Extension (who also works with EECO and with the national Children and Nature Network); Sharon Tinianow from COSI (who works with Joe Heimlich and with the Vacant Lot Conversion group born at the ’08 summit) and Cristie Wilt from ODNR, who coordinates the Explore the Outdoors program, which we are a partner in. It was a lively discussion!
In the coming weeks we’ll be processing information, conversations, and talking about the roles of various statewide and local groups, especially if the No Child Left Inside legislation should pass the Senate.
Thanks for reading! And thanks for all who attended!
