A frequent parental concern these days is that kids spend too much time indoors on screens and too little time outdoors in nature. We all know it's not good for the kids. Time spent in nature has proven benefits for physical, cognitive, and psychological health. But what's less obvious is that this lack of contact is also deleterious for nature. Kids who grow up without discovering a passion for green spaces and their inhabitants will not grow up to be the advocates they need. Books like Naila Moreira's The Monarchs of Winghaven can help kindle this passion.
"The Field was hidden from the rest of the suburb by woodland. It might have been a farm or orchard once, but it had long since been abandoned and returned to nature."
It's future biologist Sammie's favorite spot, a refuge she can come to after frustrating days at school where science class is too short and her peers tease her for her interest in "yucky" things. There she can explore to her heart's content, keeping an elaborate nature journal in sketches and words. Used to having the Field all to herself, she's apprehensive when Bram begins showing up...
...until she discovers that he's also a naturalist whose photography compliments her narratives and art. They spend a summer making a presentation on monarch butterfly eggs and larvae, discovering that Winghaven (the name they give it) could figure prominently in rebuilding monarch populations. There's just one problem...
...a large corporation is in cahoots with local government to raze Winghaven and build a mall.
The Monarchs of Winghaven is more than just a one read book. At the back of the book there's a chapter on topics like keeping a nature journal, citizen science, collecting, raising monarchs and 🐦 watching.
I think this book is especially important because it shows that what kids want and need from nature is not limited to what adults think. Sure there's a place for educational programs in sanctuaries and parks. But kids can see the potential in much less cared for spaces. My kids spent so many fully engaged hours at a neglected stream running behind the trailer park. And many kids want to have the agency to chart their own explorations...
...just like Sammie and Bram.
On a purrrsonal note I liked exploring and documenting nature. When I was an undergrad my mom and sister lived on a North Carolina barrier island. Once when I visited them I spent much of the time documenting the plants and animals of the island, especially the tidal pools. Before one of my zoology courses I shared my notebook with the professor who was so impressed he had me teach one class instead of doing a term paper.
A great big shout out goes out to independent naturalists both child and adult. We need a lot more of you to help save this precious planet.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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