So here it is part two. Enjoy the video but don’t forget to come back and read the end!
“Its True… I am persistent ….My mother prefers to call it stubborn and she says I get it from my father ….. it has become quite apparent that I have passed it on to my children. She’s right you know… My Dad was the one that gave me my love for nature. He was the one who taught me to go off trail just to see what was there. I learned to swim by not sinking. He let me fail. He encouraged me to figure things out, he taught me how to get back up, he let me make mistakes and taught me natural consequences. He let me fall….always helping pick the pebbles out of my skinned knees or elbows or chin when I did.
There is so much information that I wanted to share with you tonight. About what we do, how we do it and why it is important. I put together a short clip of photos to give you a better idea.”
(click on the link to watch the short movie)
After the video I had plans to go on with my speech…. but Elaine Pratt unexpectedly stood up and with an emotional sweep of her arm to refer to the video, she proclaimed to the entire tent that “This was Trudie and Eliot’ s vision when they started the center so long ago”. She went on with words from her heart and tears in her eyes. While we have dutifully followed the mission of the Pratt Center, we have collectively managed to embrace the essence of Trudie. Even though I have never met Trudie Pratt from what I have read and stories that I have been told she was an amazing women. Elaine could not have paid us a bigger compliment.
I stumbled through the rest of my speech with tears in my eyes…… “This past summer we were visited by almost every other summer camp in the greater New Milford Area and It is CLEAR AND VISIBLE to the untrained eye… Pratt Kids are more confident, there’s no crying, no whining, little to no arguing, they are observant, they ask questions, non judgmental, fair, they figure things out, they get up when they fall down……They too are persistent……but that’s just the beginning…….
Well documented research shows that unstructured free play brings cognitive, social and health benefits to children. Unstructured free play in nature brings a host of benefits —from being smarter to more cooperative to healthier overall. While concerned about the “obesity epidemic” in young children, the research shows that the immense health benefits from outdoor play are only one aspect of the overall benefits. Researchers cite cognitive benefits from play in nature, including creativity, problem-solving, focus and self-discipline. Social benefits include cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include stress reduction, reduced aggression and increased happiness.Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in Nature.
SMARTER! HAPPIER! HEALTHIER! CHILDREN NEED NATURE!
This past year The Pratt Nature Center met with close to 6000 school children ages 3 through 16. We discussed topics such as our food supply, biodiversity, animal habitats, the water cycle and more. We braved the Oregon Trail and made Maple Syrup over an open fire. We planted , grew and ate our own food and studied the science of soil. I held the trembling hand of an eighth grade boy who had never fed a sheep before. We hosted 478 weeks of summer camp giving out 193 weeks of full camp scholarships. I hugged strangers as they wept with gratitude for the opportunity for their child to reap the benefits that nature has to offer.
Not only is nature important to children, children are important to nature. Children are our future stewards of the land… without a meaningful connection to nature who will advocate for what we all need?
I need your help…..Its through the generosity of the greater New Milford Community that we are able to provide children with what they need, YOUR PLEDGE TONIGHT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!”
And help people did…..Thank you to all who helped, financially, physically, emotionally. The Pratt Center is a very special place. A place we ALL need. Every donation counts!
