Jackson completes Children in Nature Challenge

The Jackson Community Outreach Board recently received the news that it has completed another project, the Children in Nature Challenge. When presented with some alarming facts, such as that today's children only spend four to seven minutes outdoors each day while they spend seven to eight hours a day on electronic media outside of school, Gov. Jay Nixon, supported by first lady Georganne Nixon, created an executive order to challenge Missouri communities to provide more opportunities for children to learn about nature.

Requirements for meeting the challenge include: increasing awareness of opportunities to connect to nature; providing outdoor activities and events; enhancing and creating outdoor areas; encouraging the use of nature-based curriculum in schools; and partnering with local organizations and businesses to connect children with nature.

Nature Center manager Sara Turner, who is a member of JCOB and now serves as its president, first brought the information about the challenge before the board. As mayor of a city that takes pride in our beautiful parks and the many activities offered for the youth of our community, I was happy that the board accepted the challenge and formed a committee to coordinate the effort.

Turner chaired the Children in Nature Challenge Committee. Other members included: Charla Myers (then-president of JCOB) DeVonne Glastetter, Michelle Doughton and Janice Lumsden. Shane Anderson represented our parks and recreation programs; Jackson School Board member Cathy Goodman represented the schools, and I was honored to be a member of the committee.

It was important to have these various entities involved as so many of the outdoor activities take place in the park or at the Nature Center, and the teachers must use the nature-based curriculum. Many of the lesson plans and student materials are provided by the Department of Conservation. We are most appreciative of our schools, the Nature Center and our park department as they all cooperated in this effort and deserve congratulations for receiving this recognition.

The city of Jackson and city of Des Peres will be recognized as Missouri Children in Nature communities. Our award will be presented May 3 as part of the Planet Hubble Creek activities in the city park. This is fitting because Planet Hubble Creek is one of the activities included in our Children in Nature Challenge.

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Our city has also completed another challenge -- the opening of the new fire station. The board of aldermen, architect, contractor and city staff participated in the ribbon-cutting March 30. There will be an open house for the public at a later date after we have moved into the facility.

Barbara Lohr is the mayor of Jackson.