HR0700LRB101 17197 MST 66599 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Children are spending less time outdoors
3exploring, discovering, and observing our natural world and
4playing and creating in open spaces; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Not participating in these types of activities has
6been shown to have adverse health, social, and emotional
7consequences; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Spending time in the outdoors with frequent access
9to nature experiences and lessons provides a foundation upon
10which to build physical strength and environmental awareness;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Learning about the environment and other subjects
13in an outdoor setting, an outdoor classroom or garden, and
14through field studies and outdoor lab activities is known to
15help increase student performance in class, increase student
16interest in learning, reduce disciplinary problems, and
17increase student ownership of work being done; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The future quality, quantity, and use of the
19State's natural resources will lie in the hands of children;
20and
 

 

 

HR0700- 2 -LRB101 17197 MST 66599 r

1    WHEREAS, Children will need to understand natural systems
2and the interrelationships between natural and human-built
3systems in order to make decisions and take actions that will
4maintain a high quality of life; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we believe that every child should have the right and
8opportunity to explore the woods and climb a tree, run through
9a field and build a fort, splash in the water and catch a fish,
10explore a city park and turn over a log, sleep out in a tent and
11gaze at the stars, follow a trail and listen to a bird song,
12play in the mud and hold a frog, plant a garden and eat locally
13grown food, play in the rain and follow animal tracks, and be
14alone in nature or share it with a friend; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
16delivered to the Director of the Illinois Department of Natural
17Resources, the Director of the Illinois Environmental
18Protection Agency, the Director of the Illinois Department of
19Children and Family Services, and the Governor.