Nature does not steal time, it amplifies it.

The dugout in the weeds or leaves beneath a backyard willow, the rivulet of a seasonal creek, even the ditch between the front yard and the road-all of these places are entire universes to a young child.

If a child never sees the stars, never has meaningful encounters with other species, never experiences the richness of nature, what happens to that child?

We tend to block off many of our senses when we're staring at a screen. Nature time can literally bring us to our senses.

No other youth group like the Scouts has trained so many future leaders while at the same time being a nature organization with its outdoor focus.

If getting our kids out into nature is a search for perfection, or is one more chore, then the belief in perfection and the chore defeats the joy. It's a good thing to learn more about nature in order to share this knowledge with children; it's even better if the adult and child learn about nature together. And it's a lot more fun.

The times I spent with my children in nature are among my most meaningful memories-and I hope theirs.