Richard Louv, a journalist and bestselling author, spoke at The College of New Rochelle on April 10, 2012 for a crowd of over 125 people about the vital importance of reconnecting with nature.

Nature experiences are essential for healthy child development, according to Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder.  This idea has sparked a nationwide discussion among parents, educators, and healthcare professionals and inspired such legislative initiatives as “No Child Left Inside.” 

In his most recent book, The Nature Principle: Reconnecting With Life in a Virtual Age, Louv makes the case that our increasingly high-tech lives need to be balanced by an equal engagement with nature if people of all ages are to truly thrive in the twenty-first century.  

Louv has written eight books about the connections between family, nature and community. In 2008, he was awarded the Audubon Medal, from the National Audubon Society. Prior recipients have included Rachel Carson, E. O. Wilson, and President Jimmy Carter. He is co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network, an organization leading the effort to encourage families and communities to enable children to experience nature.

He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, and appeared on many national TV shows, including NBC's Today Show and Nightly News, CBS Evening News, ABC's Good Morning America, and NPR's Morning Edition, Fresh Air and Talk of the Nation.

The lecture was co-sponsored by the Environmental Studies and Education Programs of the School of Arts & Sciences.

Pictured above: Richard Louv, journalist and bestselling author