Presentation; "Accepting Louv's Challenge! Make Your Local Schools-Your Community-The Best in the Nation in Connecting Kids-Nature!" As a young child I had the good fortune to have parents that brought us camping, canoeing and sailing on many family outings around Huston Woods and Hocking Hills Ohio State Parks and to areas around Lake Michigan. Our family lived along the Wolf Creek near Brookville Ohio where I had woodlands, vegetable and flower gardens and a creek to play in while also Boy Scouts, friends and siblings all contributed to my sense of place and adventure. I’ve had a career connecting with others and the natural areas around us and I want to ensure others have opportunities to get the benefits of nature play as I have enjoyed. I have been sharing nature with children and adults for 38 years as a camp counselor, camp director, and naturalist through work with various organizations including the YMCA, National Audubon Society and Five Rivers MetroParks. With a BA/BS in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire and a MA in Zoology from Miami University, I am currently working for Five Rivers MetroParks since 1999. My interest include adventuring with my wife, Ann and my three children, playing music, keeping bees, growing gardens and goofing off with friends.
I have the good fortune to Chair the Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside Collaborative where we have just completed our 6th Annual MVLNCI Summit on March 11, 2017 and have launched an Award Certification directed towards places of worship, schools, libraries, parks etc. which encourages these important child centered aspects of our community to enable the Ohio Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. see http://bit.ly/MVLNCI