THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY QUINN, BARRAR, BEYER, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CIVERA, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLECK, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, KILLION, KORTZ, MAJOR, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MURT, MYERS, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PEIFER, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, CREIGHTON, MILNE, PHILLIPS AND HESS, MARCH 24, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 24, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing April 2009 as "Children and Nature Awareness Month"

in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, During September 2008 the United States House of

Representatives voted to approve the No Child Left Inside Act of

2008 with an intent to require public school systems to improve

upon environmental literacy, strengthen teacher training and

provide Federal grants to help schools fund outdoor education;

and

WHEREAS, The No Child Left Inside Act was backed by

nationwide support from the rapidly growing No Child Left Inside

coalitions, including the No Child Left Inside - Bucks County

Coalition, whose vast and diverse membership includes nonprofit,

environmental organizations and recreation organizations,

municipalities, Bucks County Departments of Health and Parks and

Recreation, State legislators and the Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, All members of the No Child Left Inside - Bucks

County Coalition recognize the pervasive need to help the State,

its counties and municipalities provide high-quality outdoor

recreation and environmental instruction; and

WHEREAS, A growing body of research indicates that a lack of

outdoor activity corresponds to increased rates in childhood

obesity, juvenile diabetes and attention deficit disorders; and

WHEREAS, Agencies, including the Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources, the Bucks County Department of Parks and

Recreation and the Department of Health work toward the goals of

reducing chronic illness in children, promoting physical

activity, healthy eating habits and educating and mobilizing

communities; and

WHEREAS, All levels of government should work collectively to

reconnect children and nature, using a growing network of

individuals, organizations and agencies to develop and promote

opportunities for all children to experience frequent, regular

play and exploration in natural outdoor settings; and

WHEREAS, Programs, policies and practices that reconnect

children and nature in enduring, meaningful ways, utilizing the

great wealth of natural resources and recreational

opportunities, have been and continue to be afforded by the

careful planning, preservation and thoughtful legislative and

administrative actions; and

WHEREAS, The No Child Left Inside - Bucks County Coalition

will host a community event, "Turn Off, Step Out, Tune In...To

Nature" on April 11, 2009, at Doylestown Township's Central Park

in the County of Bucks and representatives from various

organizations, including the Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources, will provide opportunities to educate and

inspire families to reconnect with nature and the wealth of

parks, preserved natural areas and recreation facilities; and

WHEREAS, Activities across Pennsylvania which reconnect

children to nature and the natural resources of this

Commonwealth are to be encouraged; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize April

2009 as "Children and Nature Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.