Importance of Green Spaces

1. Importance of Green Spaces Allyssa Nilsson HPRD 429 October 27 2011

2. Key Points +Nature Deficit Disorder +Robert Louv +Vitamin D +Green Spaces

3. Nature Deficit Disorder

4. “Richard Louv says children are spending more time indoors, and when they do go outside, they're most likely to be on their way to soccer practice or some other structured activity. The result, he says, is that kids are out of touch with fields, streams and woods. Louv calls this condition nature deficit disorder.”

5. Experiencing struggles at all age levels. • Elderly can’t get around in the woods. • Younger generations are staying inside. • Also experiencing lack of Vitamin D. • What did your parents do to help you get outside? Or did they not make you go outside?

6. Vitamin D • Helps with disease treatment and prevention. • ___ to___% of Vitamin D is from sunlight exposure. • What age group found having the proper amount of Vitamin D most effective?

7. Other benefits to green spaces:

8. Reducing the ‘Health Gap’ • Socioeconomic status • Promotes healthy active lifestyles.

9. What can we do? • Create Safe environments. • Enthusiastic about the great outdoors. • Teaching our children about nature

10. Go Green!