Contact: Mary McCourt

PHONE: 258-3895

EMAIL: mccourtm@ho.missoula.mt.us

Children and Nature Event for Summer Program Providers and Families!

Missoula, MT – April 30, 2010

Kids are devoting an average of seven and a half hours a day to using entertainment media from computers to video games to cell phones…sometimes several at once!  Most kids are spending less than half an hour a week playing outside.  These national statistics are shocking but they are reflected here in Missoula as well.

Missoula Children and Nature is working to reverse this trend and help kids and families find new and fun things to do outside together.  On May 22, the group will host a free event for families and a training workshop for summer camp program providers that aims to get more kids outside.

This family event will start with a free lunch and an opportunity to meet with a variety of summer program providers from the Missoula region.  At 1:30 the Missoula Children’s Theatre will offer a free showing of their new traveling performance, “Where is the Great Outdoors?”  This fun, interactive program will have everyone laughing and ready to go play outside.

Program providers and people who volunteer for youth organizations are invited to participate in a morning training at the Missoula Children’s Theater from 8:30-12:15.  Mary McCourt from the Missoula City-County Health Department will lead the keynote session, providing a wealth of tips and tools on how to make the biggest impact on youth and receive the most rewards.  The keynote will be followed by sessions that help providers learn how to incorporate more nature-based activities into their programming. These workshops are appropriate for both volunteers and staff.

Registration information for this event can be found at www.missoulachildrenandnature.org.  Families who would like to share in the free lunch are asked to contact Mary McCourt at the 258-3895 or mccourtm@ho.missoula.mt.us .   Program providers who would like to attend the training or share their program information at the Summer Camp Fair should contact Missoula Parks and Recreation to reserve a space.

Missoula Children and Nature is a network of organizations, businesses, agencies and individuals that seek to get Missoula kids exploring and playing in the outdoors.

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Press Contacts:

Mary McCourt 258-3895

Lisa Bickell 327-0405