“Films for Change is a bilingual National Film Board program designed to integrate documentary films on the environment into secondary level education.” Don’t be intimidated by “secondary level education” as these resources are valuable for children of all ages, as you know, it all depends on how you use them. “A comprehensive Teacher’s Guide is available to help students develop media literacy and environmental skills as well as to create an opportunity for students to implement environmental action projects in the classroom.

“A first of its kind, this book portrays the growing sustainability movement in American K-12 education. It showcases inspiring stories of public, independent, and charter schools across the country. It offers hope, inspiration, and expert advice, while documenting a rising trend that is good news for education and the environment.

Smart by Nature is beautifully written by our senior editor, Michael K. Stone, who has covered education for sustainable living for nearly a decade. It features a foreword by Daniel Goleman, author of Ecological Intelligence, and has already been endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation, David W. Orr, Alice Waters, and others.

Since many of you have already asked, here are a few ways you can help:

* Write a short review on Amazon.com
* Send this message to all your friends and all the educators you know
* Become a fan on our new Facebook page and share your thoughts
* Blog about it
* Ask your local bookseller to carry it
* Buy copies for the schools you care about

We encourage you to purchase your copy from University of California Press. Smart by Nature is also available from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Thank you for your support and for being a part of this vital community.”

Warmly,
Zenobia Barlow
Cofounder and Executive Director

“The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature. C&NN provides access to the latest news and research in the field and a peer-to-peer network of researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children’s health and well-being.”

“Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability
June 22-24, 2009: Berkeley, California
A three-day Center for Ecoliteracy seminar for educators and others committed to schooling for sustainability.

A Short Course: Systems Thinking, Education, and the State of the World
August 13-15, 2009: Berkeley, California
A rare opportunity to study with Fritjof Capra, one of the world’s leading systems theorists, and learn how our major global problems are interconnected and how the challenge of building sustainable communities will require both systems thinking and an ecological conception of life. Capra will be joined by David W. Orr, one of the nation’s leading environmental educators, and Carolie Sly, education program director for the Center for Ecoliteracy.

Climate Change and the Connections that Bind Us
August 14, 2009: Berkeley, California
David W. Orr, one of the nation’s leading environmental educators, will discuss his forthcoming book, Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse in a special evening reading and talk benefiting the Center for Ecoliteracy’s initiative, Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability.”

For more details, visit the Center for Ecoliteracy’s website.

Currently reading:

A book by Richard Louv

“Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond—and many are right in our own backyard.

* 100 actions you can take to create change in your community, school, and family.
* 35 discussion points to inspire people of all ages to talk about the importance of nature in their lives.
* A new progress report by the author about the growing Leave No Child Inside movement.
* New and updated research confirming that direct exposure to nature is essential for the physical and emotional health of children and adults.”

Be sure to check out Richard Louv blog childrenandnature