Transcript Where Will Future Stewards of Nature Come From?* --Naturalist Robert Michael Pyle

Where Will Future Stewards of
Nature Come From?*
Illustration by Stephen Webster
[What is the] extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?
--Naturalist Robert Michael Pyle
* Quotes by Richard Louv best-selling author of Last Child in the Woods Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
What is “Nature Deficit Disorder,” and
what is happening in response to Richard
Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods?”
“Go out and play” has
turned into “don’t you dare go outside”
• The fundamental nature of childhood has
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changed in a single generation:
• 80% of Americans live in urban areas,
• 2 of 10 American children are clinically obese,
• Kids spent up to 44 hours per week plugged in.
Kids are told the outdoors are unsafe and it’s
too late to save the planet.
We’re raising a generation that is afraid of the
outdoors.
“Sensationalist media coverage and paranoid parents have literally “scared children straight
out of the woods and field” while promoting a litigious culture of fear that favors “safe”
regimented sports over imaginative play.” --Richard Louv
“Is love of nature in the US becoming
love of electronic media?”
16-year downtrend in national park visits explained by watching movies,
playing video games, internet use, and oil prices.
Pergams and Zaradic 2006. http://www.videophilia.org/uploads/JEM.pdf
“Nature Deficit Disorder”
• The unstructured outdoor childhood has vanished.
• Kids are safer from physical harm, but what happens to their
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inner lives and imagination?
Time spent in nature is essential to human development.
Diminished connection with nature may partially be blamed for
(nature deficit disorder):
• obesity,
• depression,
• attention deficit disorder,
• learning and behavior disorders, and
• lack of creativity and independent thinking.
“There is something in us that needs nature.
When we don’t get it, we don’t do so well.” E.O. Wilson.
“Growing Up Denatured”
--New York Times 2005
• Not just a problem of suburbia.
• Rate of obesity is growing faster in rural
•
than urban areas.
A National Dialogue for the Health and
Well-Being of Our Children inspired by
Last Child in the Woods—Saving our
Children from Nature-deficit Disorder
Consensus: Nature therapy as a cure for
attention deficit disorder and other societal ills.
“Kids have an intellectualized relationship with nature.
It’s one thing to read about a frog, it’s another to hold it in your hand and feel its life.”
--Richard Louv
Saving the Child in Nature
• In the past, the conservation community
offered only token attention to children.
• Children need:
• Many hours freely exploring the outdoors,
• Time spent in favorite wild places,
• Unstructured play and discovery,
• An inspiring adult who cares about nature.
New mission?… FWP as gateway for “nature therapy.”
“If we are going to save … the environment, we must also save
an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.”
–Richard Louv
What’s Different Now?
Growing realization and understanding that:
• Contemporary society is estranged from nature.
• Estrangement has physiological, physical, environmental,
social, psychological, and spiritual implications—mostly
negative.
• Implications (nature deficit disorder) are partially to blame for
this generation’s struggle with obesity, depression,
aggression, learning and behavior disorders.
• Nature deficit disorder can be overcome or prevented by
spending time outdoors (nature therapy).
• Protecting nature for healthy human development is a viable
justification.
• There’s real merit to: Saving the Child in Nature
Conservation Achievement
Conserving land
and species
Conserving land and species as well as
the relationships of people and nature
Montanans Health: An Initial Assessment
“We have lots of nature and few people, so
Montanans should be healthy and well…”
Heart Disease: #1 Killer in Montana
Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services 2006
Preventable Causes of Death
Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services 2006
Risk Behaviors
Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services 2006
Overweight & Obesity
Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services 2006
Unhealthy Food… too Little Exercise
TV Viewing and Obesity
(similar relationship between TV viewing and likelihood of ADHD)
Hunter Participation Trends
Why does FWP care about “nature deficit disorder? The short
of it, it’s a user-based system and hunters are needed to
continue the hunting, wildlife, conservation legacy in Montana.
Fewer People Hunt
Hunters Nationwide
Number of U.S. Hunters
In Millions
20
15
10
5
0
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
Year
Southwick Associates 2005
U.S. Population That Hunts
% of U.S. Population That Hunts
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
Year
Southwick Associates 2005
State Hunting License Revenue
Millions
State Hunting License Revenue Trends
$700
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
$100
$0
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
Year
Southwick Associates 2005
Active Hunters
250,000
Individuals who Purchased
One or more Hunting Licenses
200,000
150,000
Resident
Non-resident
100,000
50,000
0
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2002
2004
Resident Deer A License
(2003-05 Average)
4,000
Who’s going to replace these baby boomers?
3,500
Number Participants
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84
Age
Resident Elk License
(2003-05 Average)
3,500
3,000
Number Participants
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84
Age
Migratory Bird License
(2003-05 Average)
600
Number Participants
500
400
300
200
100
0
12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84
Age
Montana Will Grow Older
45%
Percentage of Population
40%
35%
Youth (< 18)
30%
Adults (> 50)
25%
20%
15%
2000
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
2021
2024
2027
2030
Montana Demographics.xls
Hunter Initiation Cycle
Likelihood and avidity of
hunting as adult
Age and frequency of
hunting as a youth
Culture
Gender
Ethnicity
Urbanization
Nature Deficit Disorder
Likelihood of adult introducing
family member to hunting
Importance and value of
hunting to the individual
Mentorship Critical
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Like Hunting a lot
Like hunting a little
Youth hunter who had a mentor
Very interested in
going hunting
Gone hunting in the
past year
Youth hunter who did not have a mentor
Responsive Management 2003
Resident Elk License
(2003-05 Average)
3,500
3,000
Number Participants
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
Youth
500
Parents & Family members
0
12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84
Age
Forecast: Fewer mentors coupled with fewer kids will result in a sharp decline.
Do children in Montana experience
“nature deficit disorder?” If so, what are
we going to do about it?
Workgroup Conversations
What are the worst outcomes if a separation of
children and nature occurs in Montana?
Take 10 minutes and list as many outcomes as you can, don’t critique or judge.
Workgroup Conversations
What are the best outcomes if a reunion of children
and nature takes place in Montana?
Take 10 minutes and list as many outcomes as you can, don’t critique or judge.
Workgroup Conversations
What strategies and actions are necessary to
reunite children and nature in Montana?
Take 10 minutes and list as many outcomes as you can, don’t critique or judge.
Workgroup Conversations
Where do we go from here? Can we identify some
immediate steps and long-term goals? Do we have
the beginning of a vision?….
What is FWP Going to Do?
Thinking Outside The Box: Initial Thoughts
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Build No Child Left Inside coalition
Lower hunting age (LC)
Hunter education deferral (HB 171)
Outdoor-based curriculum during MEA Days
Hunter Olympics (4-H & FWP Partnership)
Montana Ecosystem project: Place-based learning
Living Wild: Connecting Children and Nature
Montana No Child Left Inside website with statewide
outdoor calendar
• This list needs to be much longer!
EXTRA
Growing the Children-and-Nature
Movement
The Great Park Pursuit
http://www.nochildleftinside.org/pursuit/register.php
Affects All of Us
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Educators
Health professionals
Business leaders
Conservations
Parents
Children & Nature
Kids need Nature
Nature needs Kids
What’s Happening
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Adults fear for their children’s safety (stranger danger)
Parents are busy, no enough time for kids to explore
Schools are little help
Organized activities are easier and accessible
Sedentary lifestyle
Urbanization
Electronic media
Less family time
Consequences
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Diminished health
Higher stress and aggression
Reduced cognitive and creative capacities
Lower school achievement
Diminished productivity
Nature Therapy Cures
• Cognitive and creative abilities
• Fosters problem solving
H E P articipation
7,500
7,000
6,500
6,000
5,500
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
9.0%
Youth Participation Relative
to Public Schools
8.5%
8.0%
7.5%
7.0%
6.5%
6.0%
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
Enrollment by Grade Group
80%
60%
40%
6-7
8-9
10-12
Adults
20%
0%
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
Male HE Enrollment
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
Female HE Enrollment
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
Solving the Recruitment Challenge
It won’t be easy, but it’s worth trying…
If We Build It, They Will Come…
Sustained Resource Utilization
Maximize Hunter Opportunity
Opportunity = Participation
Solving the Recruitment Problem
• Recruitment is a complex phenomenon
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• It takes a hunter to make a hunter
• Hunters come from hunting families
• Early initiation is critical
• Hunter education can play an important role
• Recruitment & retention are flipsides of the same coin
When is a hunter recruited?
• When a person says: “I’m a hunter”
• Hunter education & license purchases are limited indicators
Most recruitment factors are beyond our control
It Takes A Hunter To Make A Hunter
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No silver bullet
The real problem is fewer adults take kids hunting
Many feel good programs
Hunters, agencies, organizations concerned
• Youth hunts with special seasons and harvest rules
• Reduced or free youth licenses
• Lower hunting age and less hunter ed
Potential for unintended consequences, see Families Afield
Montana is in a situation of opportunity, not crisis
Trends Working Against Hunting
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Overall aging population
Increased ethnic diversity
Increased urbanization
More dual earner families
Declining support for hunting
Increased specialization and commercialization
More and easier options to fill leisure time
“The Last Best Place to Hunt”
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Abundant wildlife, wildlands, and access
Rural state with low population
Family tradition of hunting
Strong hunting culture
Ample and diverse hunting opportunities
Supportive and engaged hunters
Tremendous opportunity to perpetuate hunting for
those who are interested
Hunting Initiation Cycle
Likelihood and avidity of
hunting as adult
Age and frequency of
hunting as a youth
Culture
Gender
Ethnicity
Urbanization
Likelihood of initiating family
member to hunting
Importance and value of
hunting to the individual
Implications for Youth Recruitment
Hunting initiation takes place within the context of family
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Provide for bonding with male relative
Youth accompany experienced hunter without hunting themselves
Provide family-oriented hunting opportunities
Tailor recruitment programs to stages of childhood development
Provide opportunities for youth to experience hunting culture
Target specific mentors from rural households who hunt
“Low Hanging Fruit”
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Focus recruitment on traditional, rural hunting households
Focus on youth that are predisposed to hunting
Focus on males who have kids/relatives of hunting age
Encourage adults to take kids hunting
• Free family license only valid when youth is present
• Special family access programs
• Mentoring guide: Teach your kid how to hunt
• Promote hunting as a fun, family-oriented, and wholesome activity
• Deemphasize the kill, trophy, success, and hunting as a mgmt. tool
• Promote hunting as a means to share values between generations
• Encourage lapsed parent-hunters to hunt again
• Provide opportunities for youth to acquire skills beyond hunter ed
HUNTER PARTICIPATION
~ What Can We Do About It? ~