Image courtesy of Jodi Valenta/KidsDiscoverNature.com
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Consider her a super-sustainable mom if you will, Jodi Valenta is one green gal on a mission. A mission to make the great outdoors accessible and appealing to parents and caregivers in hopes that they'll get their kids off of the couch and into the backyard!
Her medium? A brand new blog called KidsDiscoverNature.com that dishes out tips, ideas and inspiration for getting little Dick and Jane jumping for joy when it comes to free, play time in nature. Her reason being that the more time kids spend outdoors, the more they'll be willing to help preserve it growing up.
Jodi is living proof. Sister to TreeHugger writer Kara DiCamillo, she spent most of her childhood in fresh air thanks to her parents influence, she then went on to study environmental studies in school, earning a Masters of Science degree in wildlife ecology and conservation from the University of Florida. Now, when she’s not blogging, you can find her managing her own eco-consulting agency, Mile Creek Communications where she assists fish, wildlife and natural resource agencies in creating successful marketing efforts.
How did you get into this line of work?
I always knew my professional life would be devoted to nature. I began my career in Washington, D.C., where I worked for a United States congressman and had planned to become an environmental lawyer. I ended up working for a non-profit organization that promotes the sound management and conservation of our country's natural resources. I managed many projects that were geared toward involving people in outdoor activities and enjoyed the "human dimensions" side of conservation. I pursued this in graduate school and received a Master of Science degree in wildlife ecology and conservation. I followed this new career path which has allowed me to open my own consulting firm and launch KidsDiscoverNature.com, a blog that provides tips and information on how to introduce children to nature.
What was your "a-ha" moment?
I am a mom of two small children and I always strive to keep them involved with nature, even in this time of electronics and "the screen." I have long been concerned that children do not play outside and enjoy nature as much as my generation did. Earlier this year I read a book entitled The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and realized that my concerns were shared by him and many others across the country. One day while I was sitting in front of my computer typing a story for one of my clients, I realized that I could combine my talents as a wildlife ecologist, a writer and a mom to help with the effort to connect children with nature. Soon after, I launched KidsDiscoverNature.com to inspire parents and caregivers to tell their kids to "go play outside" and to provide useful tips and fun ideas to help them motivate their children to head outdoors and simply enjoy wildlife.
Who is your green hero?
I have two heroes—my father and mother. They impressed upon me and my sister the importance of being eco-conscious and enjoying the outdoors from an early age. I remember riding on the back of a truck with my dad when I was four-years-old handing out recycling bins to town residents for their use. He has been a member of the local conservation commission for as long as I can remember and has been instrumental in conserving wetlands. My mom is a master gardener who always encouraged us to grow and tend flower and vegetable gardens. I have fond memories of the scent of wonderful flowers in the house and eating our own yummy fruits and vegetables. When I look back on it now, I realize the impact these activities had on me as I grew. They are definitely the reason why I chose wildlife ecology and conservation as a career.
What is your ultimate green goal?
I launched KidsDiscoverNature.com in June and am currently working on new additions to the site, which will be geared toward providing parents and care-givers additional tools to help involve kids with nature. My ultimate goal is to be able to donate a portion of the proceeds from the site to land conservation organizations and other groups that support the effort to get kids outside.
What is your motivation?
I am motivated by knowing my tips and advice help children lead healthier lives. It is well-documented that children do not spend nearly enough time enjoying free play in the outdoors and are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. They receive many benefits from exploring and playing in the natural world such as relaxation, creativity and imagination building, exercise and much more! It’s fun to think about exciting outdoor activities I can do with my own children and then pass them along to parents and caregivers.
What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
Wild places. I'm not referring to just remote wilderness areas. Those are important, but local wild places are important as well. The local park, the open field down the road, the town beach and the river bank behind a school are all "wild places" from the perspective of a child. They, and everyone, need places to go where they can experience and learn from nature. The local wild places provide that to them. They also play an important role in the local habitat and that is why conserving "open space" is so important.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Definitely the technological part of managing a blog and website is the most difficult for me. I was never computer savvy (because I was playing outside!), but I strive keep up and reach parents through as many different channels as possible. With technology changing practically every moment, it is a challenge to stay on top of it all. However, the challenge makes it fun as well!
What is the most rewarding?
Knowing that I am using my skills to accomplish something that will benefit both children and nature. I believe that children who are connected to nature are, in general, happier and healthier. Children who directly experience nature by climbing a tree, bird watching, fishing, camping or exploring will be deeply invested in nature and will, in turn, be motivated to be good stewards of our natural resources as they grow and become adults.
Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
My colleagues in the conservation field have always impressed me. From the field biologists who study anything from bears to ants, the staff of state and federal fish and wildlife agencies and special interest non-governmental organizations to private and public land managers and environmental educators. All of them are selfless people, devoted to the cause of conserving fish, wildlife and our natural resources. They have been doing it well before being "green" became the latest trend. It's their hard work, against incredibly difficult odds, that has successfully saved species from the brink of extinction, set aside millions of acres of land to assure it would be available for public recreation and managed healthy fish and wildlife populations so they will survive for future generations. The citizens of this country owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
What green thing do you do everyday?
It's hard for me to pinpoint one thing because I was raised to be "green." Being is green has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I strive to make sure I take my children outside every day. I show them insects, flowers, leaves, etc. and to teach them about ecology and how all living things are connected. I am also a stickler about recycling or reusing everything possible in our household. Each week my husband dreads getting the recyclables ready because it takes so long and because our bins are always overflowing.
What do you wish you could do?
I wish I could convince every parent or caregiver that children need free play in nature more than they need organized sports and activities. Sure, those definitely play an important role in a child's life, but children who do not spend time playing in nature are missing out on all the outdoors has to offer. If I could do this, we would all be reading more articles about how children are spending less time in front of the television and computers and more time playing out in the back yard.
What is your biggest eco-sin?
Paper towels. I use too many. I bought reusable cotton towels to use for cleaning up and wiping faces and hands, but as much as I try, I still go for the convenience of the paper towel for a quick clean up. However, I do use recycled paper towels.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I would wave my magic wand and end suburban sprawl and habitat destruction. Growth and progress are inevitable, but I hate that on one hand we tell our children that nature is important and that they need to help conserve it and on the other we destroy it right before their eyes to make room for housing developments and big box stores. It must seem so hypocritical to them.
What is your best green advice?
From the perspective of raising eco-conscious children, my advice is to encourage them to spend as much time as possible learning about and exploring the outdoors. If they directly experience all the wonderful opportunities nature has to offer, they will become stewards of it and be the key to conserving it for future generations. If we can help our children accomplish this, their generation will be happier and healthier and may even do a better job of protecting our natural resources than my generation and those before us did.
Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.
More on Kids and Nature:
Teach Kids Green with Outdoor Muse
Green Glossary: Nature Deficit Disorder
Educate Kids With Local Green Adventures
How to Go Green: Outdoor Sports
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
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