Great Outdoors

Mary Rivkin, PhD, is an associate professor of education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research focuses on children’s outdoor play. Deborah Schein, PhD, teaches at Champlain College and consults for the Agency of Jewish Learning in Pittsburgh.

• Foreword by Richard LouvIntroductionChapter 1. Children and the OutdoorsChapter 2. Early Childhood Settings With Outdoors in MindChapter 3. Precautions OutdoorsChapter 4. Children’s Spiritual Development and Nature by Deborah ScheinChapter 5. Cities for ChildrenAppendixReferencesOrganizations and Other Groups Referenced in The Great OutdoorsAbout the AuthorsAcknowledgments

"With The Great Outdoors, Mary Rivkin offers one of the clearest, most practical, most concise, and usable guides. We need this book, and others like it to come." — Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder"This book is jam-packed with information to whet every teacher’s appetite for inclusion of outdoor activities as deeply important for young children. The authors provide the reasons why (what research teaches us about the benefits of nature experiences). They provide the how to carry out nature experiences." — Alice Honig, professor emerita of child development, Syracuse University"The Great Outdoors takes the role of advocating for children’s lives outside the classroom seriously. The authors engage us with stories and offer straightforward advice, provoke us to think about nature and children’s spirituality, and share a vision of what could be happening in our centers and cities." —John Nimmo, coauthor, Emergent Curriculum"This remarkable book is informative and inspiring. Its broad outlook includes research and practical applications and ranges from sunscreen to spiritual considerations. Momentum is growing for outdoor play, and this book will fuel the movement." —Joan Almon, cofounder, Alliance for Childhood"This updated and expanded edition . . . [makes] the case for spending more time outdoors, creating safe environments, and using exploration in nature for physical, educational and spiritual enrichment. Armed with the research, Rivkin, along with colleague Deborah Schein, offer an inspiring set of practical applications . . . to advocate for outdoor play and children’s well-being." —Green Teacher magazine