Outdoors with Technology
Are you concerned that your children are so “plugged in” that they are missing out on what nature has to offer? Richard Louv, a journalist and author, who is devoted to exploring the connections between family, nature and community, is very worried. In his groundbreaking book, Last Child in the Woods (Algonquin, 2005) he coined the term nature-deficit disorder to explain the seriousness of this alarming trend.
Parents, educators and medical leaders took note and it started a discussion that is ongoing. Many years later and we are still talking, and hopefully getting our kids up from the computer or video game and into the outdoors.
I don’t know what Louv would think, but the hot new sport of geocaching might just offer a middle ground where nature meets technology and education meets play. Generally speaking, geocaching is a modern outdoor treasure hunt. Participants use a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, specially designed for use in the field, to locate a previously hidden cache (hidden treasure). Prior to embarking on a search players visit a geocaching website and download the coordinates of a geocache into the GPS. These coordinates were uploaded by whoever hid the cache. Then it’s time to get outside, access the coordinates and track the position in real time relative to the cache’s coordinates through the GPS satellites orbiting the planet.
The game can take kids (and adults) scrambling over rocks, running through the woods or combing the beach. The possibilities are endless. This month, writer and dad Bob Berry shares his experience with geocaching. Read what he has to say about how it impacted his son’s scout troop. It just might be the answer to get your techy children some much-needed fresh air and a dose of nature.
If you’d like to put technology in perspective for your youngsters take them to the Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie. This national landmark and nature preserve was the home of Samuel Morse, the inventor of the Morse Code. While it might seem quaint by today’s terms, the Morse Code was a brilliant innovation and is still used today. Read our Let’s Go To … report on a family’s visit to this venue and get tips to make this a delightful family outing.
Don’t forget to also peruse our award-winning calendar of events. We’ve included more than 100 events and activities, many of which take you into the great outdoors. Whatever your plans are for July, we hope some of them get you up and outside.
– Happy Summer!
Jean Sheff, Editor
