Coming soon --behind the scenes information about the Museum, photos of events and essays on museum topics.

No Child Left Inside –the Perfect New Year’s Resolution
In the New Year, Congress will act on a proposal to include environmental education, “No Child Left Inside,” in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. This proposal, supported by Congressman Bobby Scott, would provide new funding for environmental education to develop rigorous standards, train teachers and develop statewide environmental literacy plans. The proposal gives states that develop environmental literacy plans access to additional funds without adding any new tests or requirements on school systems.

New federal funding would provide unprecedented support for teachers and schools to teach more children about the environment. As we pass on environmental challenges to future generations we must give them a solid understanding of the issues and the tools to create solutions. This also has benefits for the economy as jobs related to environmental science and engineering are predicted to increase in the next decade.

For many area students, their only interaction with nature comes during a classroom program at the Virginia Living Museum. In his 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder author Richard Louv argues that spending less time outdoors is directly linked to an increase in a wide range of children’s behavioral problems such as attention deficit disorder and rising childhood obesity rates. “No Child Left Inside” would reinforce the informal learning and healthy benefits that occur when children and families spend more free time outside.

How can a child value the environment and understand the interconnectedness of the web of life, if they’ve never experienced nature? Never used a Secchi disc or seine net in a field science class or never even captured tadpoles in a jar or collected fall leaves to savor autumn’s palette or studied the miniature society of a backyard anthill? Hopefully Congress, including Congressman-elect Rob Wittman, will adopt this measure and enable millions of children to benefit from environmental education and value the wonders of nature.

Page Hayhurst
Executive Director
Virginia Living Museum