KampKrug

Low tide affords an opportunity to "dry snorkel" before dinner.

While we were hanging out on top of the mountain, waiting for the tsunami to roll in, Sam kept disappearing into the brush. Every now and then we’d hear a “Yes! YES!” and he’d come up with a little white snail shell. Periodically he’d toss an empty plastic water bottle to us to carry back down the trail and throw out. Pretty soon we had a pile of 6 water bottles. I laughed and pointed out the heap to Sam, who exclaimed “Well, you know, we have to take care of the earth!” loud enough for the grownups around him to hear. It’s natural for us to grab trash and throw it out, and what an industrious guy he was finding all those while he was rooting around. Kids have boundless energy, and we’re fortunate that at this age they are still open  to channeling that energy into positive pursuits, which adults can shape by leading with our example. I hope that this love of nature and second-nature desire to keep it clean is a lasting tendency. I’ve recommended it before, but I’ll do so again – read Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” And check out this interesting project on building an active classroom (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2006-rst/3278.html). We’ve known that exercise is good for the heart, good for the brain, and even fends off Alzheimer’s, but what about among kids? This researcher is quantifying the benefits for 7-10 yr olds as well (http://www.greatschools.org/students/academic-skills/how-kids-can-sweat-their-way-to-better-grades.gs?content=2224&cpn=20100302weeklysend). Aerobic exercise boosts attentiveness and performance in math and reading, regardless of the child’s baseline fitness level – all kids benefit.