I know I have many fond memories of playing outside for hours upon hours while I was growing up, and I am not alone. Climbing trees, playing games with the neighbor kids, turning over rocks in the garden to look for beetles and other insects, watching bees fly from flower to flower, playing in small streams looking for signs of life in the water, helping garden and pick berries, taking hikes and riding my bike. I suspect probably there were days that my parents had to encourage me to go play outside, but in those days if I wanted to interact with friends, it meant going outside and playing and socializing.

There are many concerns nationwide about "Nature Deficit Disorder" or the lack of children going outside and losing touch with nature. In part because of this concern, a group has formed here in Homer called "Connecting Children with Nature in Homer Forum."

Two goals of this group were to form a Homer Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, and to start up an annual Kids Outdoor Day here in Homer. With thanks to CouncilwomanFrancie Roberts and Mayor Jim Hornaday, these are both a reality.

Mayor Hornaday has proclaimed June 20, 2009, as Kids Outdoor Day and has approved a list of 11 rights of kids here, including watching wildlife, playing in the dirt, splashing in water and eating local foods, to name a few.

Please keep your eyes and ears open for activities coming up that involve children outdoors, beginning this Saturday, with a free, family geocaching event from noon-3 p.m. at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. No experience or equipment necessary -- there will be GPS units for loan. There will be events throughout the summer at Islands and Ocean, the Pratt Museum, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, the fishing lagoon, etc.

With the great weather we are having so far this summer, it makes wanting to be outside even more appealing. It can be as easy as making the effort to go for an after-dinner walk with the family, or a day's outing to a beach to go explore tidepools.

Help Homer celebrate our first annual Outdoor Kids Day on June 20, from noon-3 p.m. at Islands and Ocean.

Don't forget to take time to smell the flowers, every day.

Sue Post