Last Child in the Woods: 3 Takeaways

Studies consistently show that outdoor education improves self-esteem, leadership, academic performance, personality development, and interpersonal skills.

Photo credit: iStock

By Brian Comly

“We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children’s memories, the adventures we’ve had together in nature will always exist.”

― Richard Louv

Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder has made a significant impact since its publication, earning a spot on the New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction and garnering the Audubon Medal for its role in raising awareness about the consequences of children’s disconnection from nature. The book’s success sparked the creation of the Children & Nature Network, co-founded and chaired by Louv, which aims to support efforts to reconnect children with the natural world (and has great taglines like “There’s no app for this,” “Kids won’t remember their best day of YouTube,” and “Every child deserves to see the stars”).

While the book, with its last update in 2008, is somewhat dated — focusing primarily…