By PLT Staff

With American kids today spending more and more time inside in front of electronic screens and less time outside in nature, we are seeing the ramifications – higher rates of obesity and a surge in “nature-deficit disorder” among our kids as they become increasingly disconnected from the environment. We hope you agree that we must do more to connect young people with the great outdoors.

One way to do that is by having our public schools devote more time and attention to the environment.

To make sure more students receive lessons in the environment, Project Learning Tree, as an active member of the No Child Left Inside Coalition, is working hard to pass the No Child Left Inside Act. This national legislation will provide funding to train teachers and build strong environmental education programs. The goal is to make sure kids have a basic understanding of their natural world and the challenges it faces.  Even with everything going on this election year, the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a large margin.

Our movement is catching fire with parents, students, teachers and hundreds of organizations devoted to a range of subjects, including the environment, education, outdoor recreation and public health, as well as many businesses – all of whom appreciate the value of environmental education. Research has shown that high-quality environmental education lessons get kids engaged in their school work and spur their interest in outdoor activities.

Won’t you join us? Please sign our on-line petition urging Congress to pass the No Child Left Inside Act.

It’s time we got serious about getting kids outside.  Thank you for your support.

Project Learning Tree® is a program of the American Forest Foundation