An urban nature lesson from Philadelphia

Where does environmental stewardship begin?

I came across this wonderful video of second graders in North Philadelphia learning and playing outdoors.

Source: Philly Eco-City

Opportunities to play outdoors and experience nature build upon a child’s innate curiosity. Getting to know a place can lead to a sense of ownership. And this, in turn, becomes the base for further learning about nature and about broader environmental issues and supporting active stewardship of the environment.

As one of the teachers says:

“It starts small, right? It starts with them playing and being outside and appreciating the space. …When they become attached to a space, they feel more responsible for it….”

Related posts:

1. Nature in the City: promoting community-based ecological stewardship
2. Urban Bee
3. Biodiversity and the City 2: In an urban world, where are the ecologists?

Tagged as: children, Philadelphia, sense of place, stewardship, urban nature