Junior BioBlitz Takes Learning Outside

Evidence is mounting that children have decreasing exposure to the natural world, which makes sense as the population of the planet urbanizes and many interests and assignments involve digital technology. According to the United Nations, 54% of the world's population now live in cities (2014), and a 2010 study by the Kaiser Health Foundation found children ages 8-18 spend over 53 hours on media each week, leaving less time overall for outdoor pursuits. To help quantify the effect of this decreased time outdoors, Heidi, a fifth-grade student, conducted an investigation for a schoolwide project fair, a "BioBlitz," to determine the veracity of the commonly held belief that children today recognize hundreds of corporate logos but fewer than 10 local plants. While the sample size was small, she found the children in a remote, rural Alaska town easily recognized most of the corporate logos (some recognized all 10) but far fewer of common local plants (some recognized zero). One of Heidi's conclusions was that children are spending more time on electronic devices, and this is limiting their time for outdoor experiences. This may be especially true in the Alaskan community, which is located in a brilliantly beautiful yet cold and rainy temperate rain forest. In this article, fourth graders learn about local biodiversity by working with local experts and nature enthusiasts.