Why kids(and everyone) need wilderness

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wilderness

It’s amazing the number of articles one can find about the benefits of spending time in the wilderness. It’s equally surprising to hear about situations where people aren’t respecting the wilderness. One would think everyone would treat the wilderness gently since it offers us so much but it isn’t the case. Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park have been cut down to make illegal campsites  and garbage is piling up in other National Parks. It’s sad to hear about these instances and we’re thankful for folks respecting our Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounding Superior National Forest.  Why are we thankful? Edward Abbey said it best, “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” Why do kids and adults need wilderness? Here’s just a few reasons listed in a recent article I read and I know we can all come up with hundreds more.

  • 1. Kids need the freedom to learn what life is like without a schedule.
  • 2. Kids of all ages need a connection to nature.
  • 3. Kids need time to kick back and relax.
  • 4. Kids need to figure out how to exist without technology.
  • 5. Kids must be taught the importance of conservation.

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