Nature introduces children to the idea—to the knowing—that they are not alone in this world, and that realities and dimensions exist alongside their own.

I do not mean to imply that the good old days were perfect. But the institutions and structure--the web--of society needed reform,not demolition. To have cut the institutional and community strands without replacing them with new ones proved to be a form of abuse to one generation and to the next. For so many Americans, the tragedy was not in dreaming that life could be better; the tragedy was that the dreaming ended.

By letting our children lead us to their own special places we can rediscover the joy and wonder of nature.

There is a real world, beyond the glass, for children who look, for those whose parents encourage them to truly see.

Time in nature is not leisure time; it's an essential investment in our chidlren's health (and also, by the way, in our own).

Stress reduction, greater physical health, a deeper sense of spirit, more creativity, a sense of play, even a safer life-these are the rewards that await a family then it invites more nature into children's lives.

Nature is one of the best antidotes to fear.