Facts from NCLI Video

- A study found that young people could identify 1000 corporate logos but fewer than 10 plants or animals native to their backyards.
- Children who learned in outdoor classrooms increased science scores by 27%.
- Children as young as five showed a decrease in ADD symptoms when they were engaged with nature.
- Children ages 6 to 11 spend thirty hours a week looking at a TV or computer monitor.
- 400% increase in childhood obesity since the 1960's.

Adressing Nature Deficit Disorder

I am surprised that I hadn't heard of this until just recently. If you google "No Child Left Inside" you'll see that a lot of states have this initiative that gets children outside for experiential, hands on learning in natural settings.

When the current administration started the No Child Left Behind initiative, I was one that said it was actually just as important (if not more) that physical education and natural education receive the same emphasis and it hasn't happened until recently. With childhood obesity and ADD on the rise in children today it is becoming more and more prudent that they have a balanced approach to their learning not just in the math and science realm.

The NCLI Coalition reports that the NCLI Act was passed in the House of Representatives on September 19th and is now in the Senate. It will probably be delayed due to the Bailout plan.

Click here to watch the NCLI video on YouTube.

New Releases

How cool is it when two of your favorite artists release new albums about the same time? Bebo Norman's new album came out last Tuesday and Andrew Peterson's new album hits stores Oct. 21st!

Click on the links to hear some of their new music... it's sweet

ZAP!

Found this on Jeremy's Blog A Moving Meditation and couldn't pass up the chance to share it! This is classic Christian synth rock from the 80's? For all you Brethren folk out there this looks like The Gospel Echoes Teams daytrippin'. I swear that the bass player/singer looks just like one of my Old German Baptist Brethren cousins! It might be the best video ever.

Male Call

Came across some funny old Murphy Brown episodes. This one is called "Male Call" and it takes a light-hearted but insightful look into a big thing that was happening at that time, the mythopoetic men's movement. It gives a small glimpse into the kind of work that I want to do. Though the group work is only one of the many aspects to the work. The episode is broken into two videos. Enjoy!

Podcast in Sidebar Now

I added another post on my podcast talking about the rewilding process as it relates to the English language. You can listen to it by clicking on the play button the right side of the blog just underneath my profile. You can also access earlier casts by clicking on the posts button on the player. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Paying Respects to the Great Mysteries

I don't really follow UFC or MMA for that matter. I have seen a fight or two (mostly because of friends' interest) and I understand why it is such a popular sport at this moment.

I saw in the news that an Ex-UFC champ died at the age of 37. After reading the article, it was fascinating how this guy embodied a lot of the things that I ascribe to. Evan Tanner was a wandering spirit and outdoorsman who undertook a journey to "cleanse" himself and conduct his own "Survivorman" experiment, which was nothing new for him. He was found dead yesterday in the California desert. This was what he had told friends on his blog:

This isn’t a version of ‘Into the Wild, I’m not going out into the desert with a pair of shorts and a bowie knife, to try to live off the land. I’m going fully geared up, and I’m planning on having some fun. I’m not just going out into the desert, I’m going out into the desert to hunt for lost treasure, I’m going on a pilgrimage of sorts, a journey to solitude, to do some thinking, and to pay my respects to the great mysteries.

I find it interesting that the longing to connect with something greater in a wilderness/desert setting isn't just coming to the surface in the church but also in our society.

More in Common than Football

A few of you know that I went to high school with Matt Light who is the left tackle for the New England Patriots. I even had his mother as a music teacher during elementary school.

Matt has a foundation that works to empower young people. Click here to check it out.

The foundation has put together a film called Stands Alone Warrior that takes 4 young men from an East Coast urban setting and 4 young men from a Cheyenne Indian Reservation and places them in an outdoor setting in Montana to work on their development as men. It looks rather interesting and one to check out if you are interested in initiation practices and masculine spirituality.

You can watch the trailer below.

Bill Maher Documentary

Getting Roles Reversed

I saw an article on Yahoo this morning that said what I've been thinking for some time now. After hearing Gov. Palin last night (and not being impressed) the article talks about how she sees what we're doing in Iraq as "a task from God."

The quote comes from a spokesman from Americans United for Separation of Church and State:

I miss the days when pastors delivered sermons and politicians delivered political speeches," he said. "The United States is increasingly diverse religiously. The job of a president is to unify all those different people and bring them together around policy goals, not to act as a kind of national pastor and bring people to God.

I agree wholeheartedly and it looks as though Gov. Palin is continuing that line of thinking that we've seen in the Bush Administration.

A Boy and his Dog

As of Sunday evening we now have a dog. She is a 9 year old Cairn Terrier named Muffin. She has been nothing but a good girl since we got her.

The back story for this event.

My wife and I have been looking for a dog ever since we moved out to Illinois. I am a fan of Huskies/Malamutes, German Shepherds, Beagles and Schnauzers. My wife is a huge Labrador Retriever, Dachshund, Jack Russells and Pug lover. We couldn't settle on what kind of dog we wanted and had some potentials not come thru.

We found out about Muffin thru some friends whose Uncle was going to be moving into a retirement community and couldn't keep her. The offer was there we just weren't sure.

Saturday afternoon I had a revelation. I had a dog growing up named Buttons and he was a mix of Lhasa Apso and terrier. We never knew exactly what kind of terrier until then. When our friend said Cairn Terrier I wasn't certain what the breed looked like so I googled it and I found Buttons!

The numbers game: We got Buttons in 1988 and had to get rid of him in 1999 when my folks divorced so he was 11 years old. I have not had a dog since then... 9 years. Muffin was born about the same time as we gave Buttons away and she looks just like him (especially in the face).

The revelation was this: you have a chance to finish with Muffin what you didn't with Buttons. The process feels like a continuation... and my wife and I will love Muffin for the rest of her life (be it a year from now or 6 years).