Nature for a Healthy Future

Michigan Nightlight: In your view, what makes your program innovative, effective or remarkable?
Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway Early Childhood Educator Ruth Cronk: When children engage in meaningful outdoor experiences, piquing their curiosity and sense of wonder of the natural world, the energy and excitement of these little learners creates a draw for their families to also engage in nature.

When children engage in meaningful outdoor experiences, piquing their curiosity and sense of wonder of the natural world, the energy and excitement of these little learners creates a draw for their families to also engage in nature.

That’s very important. Through science enrichment and intervention, we, with the collaborative efforts of our many community partners, attempt to change our children’s increasingly sedentary lifestyles to include outdoor-oriented activities.
 
What was the best lesson learned last year?
One of the best lessons we learned last year is that the community, whether it be schools, childcare centers, community focus events or individual families, are beginning to embrace the importance of spontaneous and/or organized outdoor activities. In order to reach this level of change, we have to change the view and behavior of the adults that are influencing the children; their family members, their educators and their caregivers.
 
Fundamentally, all children love to explore the outdoors and have a deep sense of curiosity. We’ve learned that if that is not a core value that they are allowed to express and experience, a child will lose that interest or curiosity. This can result in long-term health, learning and development issues.
 
What was the hardest lesson learned in the past year?
It was the realization that due to cultural differences, we are more successful going to families with our stand-alone programs rather than offering them only at the center. Many factors weigh into this including transportation, language barriers, jobs, comfort with surroundings and family status.  We, unfortunately, have evolved into a society that does not value the natural interactions children need to experience with nature.

We, unfortunately, have evolved into a society that does not value the natural interactions children need to experience with nature.

We are now trying to get it back and that means changing culture – we have to meet people where they are most comfortable.
 
What really differentiates this program?
All of our lessons are curriculum-based using the math and science program that the Battle Creek area schools have purchased. Our teachers are given these lessons to use and many of the lessons have extension activities that teachers are encouraged to use between lessons. Meeting the children and their families in their own neighborhoods, their churches, their homes, greatly increases the children and the family’s comfort, and therefore, their participation.
 
What are the keys to success for your program?
Our collaborations. We have strong partnerships with a common goal. Our partnerships include the Ottawa County Health Department, the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, Great Start Collaborative of Ottawa County, Great Start Parents Collaborative, Ottawa County Parks and Recreation, Ready for School, Zeeland Community Hospital, Hamilton Community Schools, West Ottawa Public Schools, Corpus Christi Catholic School, Zeeland Public Schools and Hope College.
 
How does race or diversity affect the work of your program?
This program targets vulnerable children in urban and rural areas of our community, and the community in which we are involved has a high Hispanic population with many parents being monolingual. The children become the interpreters for their parents, so having access to interpreters for some of our programs is a positive way to reach out to our Hispanic community. This is in collaboration with two of our partners – Ready for School and the Great Start Collaborative of Ottawa County. Each family has the opportunity to attend two of our events free of charge.  
 
We were encouraged with the attendance of our Hispanic families at our fall event, “Treats and Trails.” It is our hope that our upcoming Capstone Event, which is the “No Child Left Inside” pig roast, will have even greater numbers.