INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

Why do we invite you to join us in “building creative, problem solving kids.”  What is creativity?  What does it require? Read “Creativity in America, The Science of Innovation and how do we Reignite our Imaginations?” How does “hands-on” kid centered science help develop creativity in our kids? Check out this website to see.

What are the benefits for kids who regularly connect with nature outdoors? Interested? Then this information is for you.

Source: Newsweek, July 19, 2010, “Creativity in America, the Science of Innovation and How to Reignite Our Imaginations”  P.O. Bronson and Ashley Merryman.

Accepted Definition of Creativity  – “Creativity is the production of something original and useful. To be creative requires divergent thinking (generating  many unique ideas) and convergent thinking (combining those ideas into the best result).”

Using Torrance’s Creativity Index For Testing The Results:

Creativity scores had been steadily rising just like IQ scores until 1990. Since then creativity scores have consistently inched downward. It is very clear and the decrease is significant. It is the scores of younger children in America – from kindergarten through sixth grade -for whom the decline is most serious.” 

Source: Book – “Hot Flat And Crowded” by Thomas L. Friedman, 2008

“Part of Earth Week is ‘No Child Left Indoors Week’. It has as it’s function to develop a greater awareness among schoolchildren and their families of the ‘web of nature’ out their back doors and to encourage students and their families to be good stewards of their larger home ‘Planet Earth.’ Why? People don’t preserve what they don’t respect and revere.”

“Research indicates that visits to our state and national parks have declined 25% in the last decade as our kids remain indoors watching T.V. and playing computer games. America is falling behind other countries in the earth-based sciences.”

“Children who connect with nature perform better in school, have higher SAT scores, exhibit fewer behavioral challenges, and experience fewer attention deficit disorders.” Thomas Friedman, 2008.