Richard Louv
Encyclopedia
Richard Louv is an American
nonfiction author
and journalist
. He is best known for his seventh book, Last Child in the Woods
: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (first published in 2005 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill), which investigates the relationship of children and the natural world in current and historical contexts. Louv created the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe possible negative consequences to individual health and the social fabric as children move indoors and away from physical contact with the natural world – particularly unstructured, solitary experience. Louv cites research pointing to attention disorders, obesity
, a dampening of creativity and depression
as problems associated with a nature-deficient childhood
. He amassed information on the subject from practitioners of many disciplines to make his case, and is commonly credited with helping to inspire an international movement to reintroduce children to nature.
newspaper between 1984 and 2007, its last manifestation titled The Future’s Edge. He has been a columnist and member of the editorial advisory board for Parents
magazine and a Ford Foundation Leadership for a Changing World http://www.leadershipforchange.org/ award program adviser. He also was an adviser for the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child http://www.developingchild.net/. He currently is honorary co-chair of The National Forum on Children and Nature http://www.conservationfund.org/children_nature, which is co-chaired by four state governors, a Visiting Scholar at Clemson University
, and chairman and co-founder of the Children & Nature Network, http://www.childrenandnature.org/ a non-profit organization
.
In 2008, the National Audubon Society
awarded Louv its highest honor, the Audubon Medal. He was the 2007 recipient of Clemson University
's Cox Award for "sustained achievement in public service," and received the Paul K. Petzoldt Award from the Wilderness Education Association.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, and associations such as the Sierra Club
, The Trust for Public Land
, and The Nature Conservancy
have cited Louv's book.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nonfiction author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He is best known for his seventh book, Last Child in the Woods
Last Child in the Woods
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder is a 2005 book by author Richard Louv that documents decreased exposure of children to nature in American society and how this "nature-deficit disorder" harms children and society...
: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (first published in 2005 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill), which investigates the relationship of children and the natural world in current and historical contexts. Louv created the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe possible negative consequences to individual health and the social fabric as children move indoors and away from physical contact with the natural world – particularly unstructured, solitary experience. Louv cites research pointing to attention disorders, obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, a dampening of creativity and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
as problems associated with a nature-deficient childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
. He amassed information on the subject from practitioners of many disciplines to make his case, and is commonly credited with helping to inspire an international movement to reintroduce children to nature.
Career
Louv was a columnist for The San Diego Union-TribuneThe San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
newspaper between 1984 and 2007, its last manifestation titled The Future’s Edge. He has been a columnist and member of the editorial advisory board for Parents
Parents (magazine)
Parents, published by Meredith Corporation, is the oldest parenting publication in the U.S. It was first published in October 1926.Its editorial focus is on the daily needs and concerns of mothers with young children. The glossy monthly features information about child health, safety, behavior,...
magazine and a Ford Foundation Leadership for a Changing World http://www.leadershipforchange.org/ award program adviser. He also was an adviser for the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child http://www.developingchild.net/. He currently is honorary co-chair of The National Forum on Children and Nature http://www.conservationfund.org/children_nature, which is co-chaired by four state governors, a Visiting Scholar at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, and chairman and co-founder of the Children & Nature Network, http://www.childrenandnature.org/ a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
.
In 2008, the National Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
awarded Louv its highest honor, the Audubon Medal. He was the 2007 recipient of Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
's Cox Award for "sustained achievement in public service," and received the Paul K. Petzoldt Award from the Wilderness Education Association.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, and associations such as the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land is a land conservation nonprofit founded in 1972 by Huey Johnson and based in San Francisco, California in the United States. TPL works throughout the United States to conserve land for people as parks, gardens, and other natural places.- TPL Conservation Initiatives :TPL...
, and The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
have cited Louv's book.
External links
- Richard Louv Official Website
- Today Show. July 16, 2008.
- Morning Edition, National Public Radio. May 25, 2005
- KQED. May 12, 2008
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Children & Nature Network (C&NN)
- National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
- Public School Insights Interview with Louv. Posted April 22, 2008