The negative consequences of separating children from the natural world will be explored when bestselling author, journalist and nature advocate Richard Louv speaks at Wilkes University. Louv will deliver his lecture, “The Nature Principle: Nature-Deficit Disorder, Vitamin N, and the New Nature Movement” on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, 239 S River St., Wilkes-Barre. The event is sponsored by Geisinger, The North Branch Land Trust, Riverfront Parks Committee and Wilkes. The event is free and open to the public and will conclude with a book-signing.
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. Citing research pointed to attention disorders, obesity, a dampening of creativity and depression, he concludes these result from a nature-deficient childhood.
Louv is a journalist and author of nine books, including Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age, and most recently Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life: 500 Ways to Enrich Your Family’s Health & Happiness. His books helped launch an international movement to connect children and their families to nature. He is also the co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network, an organization helping build the international movement to connect people and communities to the natural world.
As a journalist and commentator, he has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Times of London, Orion, Outside and other newspapers and magazines. He was a columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune and Parents magazine. He appears frequently on national radio and television programs, including the Today Show, CBS Evening News, and NPR’s Fresh Air, and often addresses national and international gatherings.
