No Child Left Inside: A case study for other states looking to expand their outdoor recreation programs

Today I came across a blog post about the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's program No Child Left Inside. It's a fantastic initiative to get kids outside enjoying the outdoors. I recommend this Web site to any state's outdoor recreation department looking for ideas. I love the look of the site and its organization(I'm overlooking the broken navigation). It outlines what makes Connecticut special, and all the possibilities its environment has to offer.

More than any other generation, today's kids spend a great deal of time indoors. No Child Left Inside is a promise, and a pledge... to help Connecticut's children live active, healthier lives while they enjoy the natural treasures of our state parks and forests - and discover the rewards of becoming environmentally conscious citizens.

This very special outreach, education and public awareness campaign was created to encourage families to enjoy all the recreational resources and outdoor activities offered by Connecticut's state parks, forests and waterways.

No Child Left Inside is comprised of several programs:

• The Great Park Pursuit, The Connecticut State Parks Family Adventure
• Park Passes for Foster Families
• Park and Forest Interpreters
• Urban Fishing Program (my personal favorite)
• Through this program, ponds and rivers in cities are stocked with trout; city school children participate in fish stocking events; and volunteers work with students both in the classroom and outdoors to teach them lifelong fishing skills.
• Environmental Education
• State Park Passes at Libraries
• Water Safety

Getting your kids outdoors is a great thing to consider, especially right now. In the South, we're cooling off from Summer and gearing up for some great Fall weather! We're starting to have some great camping, hiking, fishing weather, and I hope everyone will begin taking advantage of it.

The No Child Left Inside Web site got me really excited about the changing weather and spending time outdoors. If anyone knows of a comparable site for Georgia please let me know.