What Parents and Kids Need to Know about Nature

Let's Play with Nature

Children in the U.S. spend 50 percent less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago. In an effort to motivate families and their children to get outside more often and re-connect with nature, the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council launched Wednesday new public service advertisements (PSAs).

The aim is to encourage families to take the time to discover the forest. The Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell, will unveil the new PSAs on June 11 at Kingman Island in coordination with National Get Outdoors Day.

Research shows that children who play outside have a reduced risk for obesity, lower stress levels, more active imaginations and they’re more likely to become environmentally conscious adults.

The new television, radio, print and outdoor PSAs, created pro bono by ad agency, Turbine, are being released to coincide with National Get Outdoors Day on June 11.

Let's Play with Nature

The PSAs encourage children and their parents to visit www.DiscoverTheForest.org (and the new Spanish version, DescubreElBosque.org), which includes an interactive map tool, powered by Google and Nature Find that enables users to search for nearby forests and parks, as well as downloadable activities for them to print and take with them when they visit.

“Parents play an important role in encouraging children to get outside in nature,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.

The Ad Council and the USDA Forest Service will promote the new PSAs through a multifaceted social media effort on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.