St. David's Center Forest Coordinator Heads to Washington D.C.

Studies have shown that a child who spends time outside is a healthier, happier, smarter child.

Misi Stine, the school forest coordinator for , has been invited to Washington D.C. to remind legislators of the importance of environmental education.

"They're dealing with a lot of important issues in Washington, but environmental education is an important one," Stine said. "Letting them know what we're doing and the impact we're having will keep it on their minds."

Stine and 14 other educators from around the country were invited by the American Forest Foundation to meet with House and Senate representatives to discuss the importance of environmental education on July 18.

Stine was recommended because of her work with the School Forest Program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, her 15 years of education experience and the foundational work she does with early childhood teachers and children. Her experience includes 10 years as St. David’s Center’s School Forest coordinator, six years as a Project WET, Project Wild and Project Learning Tree facilitator, two years as a Minnesota Master Naturalist Instructor with the University of Minnesota Extension and 14 years as a Wildlife Science Center volunteer.

A Movement to Get Young Children Outside

Children are smarter, more cooperative, happier and healthier when they have frequent and varied opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors, according to Children & Nature 2008: A Report on the Movement to Reconnect Children to the Natural World.

Stine said they now know that spending time in nature reduces symptoms of ADHD, improves depression and is one of the keys to developing problem-solving skills. 

"They can take their imagination out there and build something out of sticks or blocks or create a game," she said. "We're seeing the importance of nature  through the evidence and the research."

As school forest coordinator at St. David’s Center, Stine manages one of six DNR-certified school forests in Hennepin County. She also trains teachers on ways to integrate the outdoors into their classrooms using Project Learning Tree curriculum, tailoring it to preschoolers and children with special needs.

“At St. David’s Center, our school forest, creek and playgrounds get children playing, learning and exploring the outdoors — a key strategy in promoting healthy lifestyles well into adulthood,” explained Julie Sjordal, executive director of St. David’s Center. “Outdoor environments like these, combined with Misi’s passion and expertise, create opportunities for children to learn in the most natural settings.”

St. David’s Center teachers frequently use the school forest for nature walks to identify plants, bugs and animals, or to find items for art projects.

Mental health practitioners in its Autism Day Treatment program commonly use the forest for calming walks and functional play as well as for games that generalize skills to different locations and scavenger hunts that promote team work.

"When they learn a skill inside, they take that skill outside to the school forest and practice it out there," Stine said.

Nature also has a calming effect on the very young children who come to St. David's.

"When our toddlers first come in, their first week is really tough, so the teachers will put them in a wagon and take them out for walks," she said.

The organization has plans to further preserve and engage the natural features of the site with its educational and therapeutic services. This includes relocating, redesigning and building a state-of-the-art playground that integrates the school forest and natural play as well as a new boardwalk and extended path system in the school forest to further encourage engagement.

The 2.5 acre wetland is open to the community from dawn until dusk.
Visit St. David’s Center online to find out about its programs, grounds and current renovation project.