BE THE BEST SCHOOL IN OHIO FOR CONNECTING KIDS TO NATURE!

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WHERE CHILDREN AND HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND SMARTER!

Recipients of this award indicates an endorsement of support for the Ohio Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights and documents schools support to enable these rights listed 1-9 for children. Awarded by Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside and Dayton Regional Green with major collaboration by MVLNCI partners: Five Rivers MetroParks, Miami County Park District, Centerville–Washington Park District and Dayton Children’s Hospital.

Email *

A door decal similar to this is awarded to all successful applicants along with a congratulatory letter from Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside Board. An optional banner is also provided pending self or sponsored funding. When filling out this form, action option statements ending in a # sign are referenced in the "Resources to help meet award criteria for schools." found on the MVLNCI website. http://bit.ly/MVLNCI

SCHOOL *

FIRST NAME *

LAST NAME *

TITLE *

EMAIL *

PHONE # *

MVLNCI acknowledges that without administrative support, staff efforts to connect children to nature at schools generally diminish over time. Please confirm this statement: The Principal supports the efforts to connect children to nature at this school. Please list the Principal's name below. *

Background Video: "Why Children Need the Outdoors," inspired by Richard Louv's book "Last Child In the Woods" and the Children and Nature Network.

All teaching staff required to review the above four minute video, "Why Children Need the Outdoors." We acknowledge that our staff have reviewed this video *

Yes all teaching staff have reviewed this video.

Was there an organization, agency, school, individual etc. that encouraged you to participate in this certification process you wish to acknowledge? Please identify them.

1. BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND PLAY OUTSIDE EVERY DAY TO GROW UP HEALTHY.

(must accomplish 3)

We provide outdoor experiences every day for all students. #

Please cite example:

We encourage outside play for our students and their families, provide and communicate ideas, and have developed a recognition program. #

Please cite example:

We provide inspiration to experience the outdoors with posters or other medium in our school and for families. #

Please cite example:

2. HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, NATURAL GREEN SPACES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

(must accomplish 2)

We promote imaginative unstructured and structured play with natural materials.

Please cite example:

We provide a place on the school campus grounds that encourage places for families to use during non-school hours.

Please cite example:

Our district and buildings host activities at our community green spaces and other natural resources.

Please cite example:

3. CONNECT WITH NATURE, WITH FREE TIME TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS.

(must accomplish 2)

We provide supplies, materials, equipment and opportunities for all children in the school to explore the outdoors.

Please cite example:

We incorporate the outdoor experiences in homework assignments. #

Please cite example:

We will encourage the correlation of technology in the outdoors to experience nature.

Please cite example:

4. DISCOVER THE WONDER OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, LARGE AND SMALL, USING ALL FIVE SENSES.

(must accomplish 5 with special encouragement to accomplish the first option: creating an outdoor learning area big or small)

Our school has created an outdoor natural learning area usable by students and teachers and we have completed the survey about this Schoolyard Connection To Nature Site here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQ_8uIOwBkuLZRCFaIRIMPOXUMYNebXUwg-Vmdkuw8i99k0w/viewform?c=0&w=1

We have completed the above survey for our outdoor natural area

Our Music program will provide opportunities to listen to the sounds of plants and animals outside and enjoy the natural world concert.

Please cite example:

Our Music program will utilize songs that encourage a connection with nature for example Bannana Slug String Band or Chris Rowlands.

Please cite example:

Our Art classes will go outside once a season and make "five senses" maps of our outside environment or other art activity that connects the students to engage with nature.

Please cite example:

Our Physical Education classes will utilize the outdoors to engage the five senses.

Please cite example:

All teachers provide writing opportunities connecting their experiences with the outdoors.

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5. EXPLORE THE DIVERSITY OF OHIO'S NATURAL HABITATS.

(must accomplish 2)

Every grade level in our school goes on a school field trip to a natural environment such as a park, nature center, etc. each year or has lessons outdoors on our school land lab(s).

Please cite example:

We send home monthly suggestions of a family excursion to an Ohio natural habitat. #

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We encourage our students and families to participate in a local park or nature center outdoor program once a month. #

Please cite example:

6. UNDERSTAND THE PATTERNS AND CYCLES IN NATURE.

(must accomplish 2)

Our Science curriculum will include a sequenced plan to study different aspects of nature with an emphasis on its importance in every grade level.

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We post on social media or website/page a fact or information about patterns and cycles. #

Please cite example:

7. EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF SPLASHING, PLAYING AND SWIMMING IN SAFE, CLEAN LAKES AND STREAMS.

(must accomplish 2)

We will distribute information about offerings available in our local parks and nature centers that provide access to natural water play.

Please cite example:

We ensure at least one grade level has a school day field trip that involves creek/river exploration.

Please cite example:

We have found another option to enjoy our Ohio surface waters such as spashing in or exploring puddles on the school grounds.

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Please cite example:

8. BE FULLY IMMERSED IN NATURE BY CAMPING OVERNIGHT.

(must accomplish 2)

We provide local camping information. #

Please cite example:

We encourage participation in the Great American Campout National Wildlife Federation. #

Please cite example:

9. LEARN HOW TO GIVE BACK TO NATURE.

(must accomplish 5)

Our teachers read to students about protecting nature.

Please cite example:

We encourage monthly nature focus ideas for students, parents, school staff and our community to give back to and protect nature including recycling, planting seeds/trees/food shrubs, picking up litter etc. #

Please cite example:

We encourage parents to share their nature connection stories from their childhood with their children.

Please cite example:

We encourage families to certify their backyards as National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat or similar natural habitat certification. #

Please cite example:

We participate in the Lights Out Miami Valley program to protect birds by eliminating extraneous outdoor lighting during migration season.

Please cite example: *

We participate in a tour and pledge for sustainablility at the Montgomery County Environmental Learning Center. #

Please cite example:

We are: A) a National Wildlife Federation certified SCHOOLYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT or B) a CERTIFIED WILD SCHOOL SITE certified by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources or C) a Monarch Watch certified MONARCH WAYSTATION site or D) a CERTIFIED NATURE EXPLORE CLASSROOM or E) other similar natural habitat certification; and have our sign posted on school grounds.

Please cite example:

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