Recently, I read How To Raise a Wild Child (Scott Sampson, 2016) by Dr. Scott the Paleontologist. (Awesome book! Highly recommend!) In it, he stresses the importance of telling kids our own stories about growing up in nature. By talking about and sharing our experiences in nature, it expands a child’s appreciation of nature. People protect what they love. If we teach kids more about nature, the more they learn, the more they’ll care about and love it, and the more they will protect it.
Dr. Scott’s message really hit home with me. I recognized that I was doing that in my novels—intentional or not. I hope my writing can help give the reader a nature connection. And please if you are reading this, I encourage you to share your nature stories with the younger people in your lives. The more we share and increase nature connections, the more we can do to protect it. Hopefully…