JoCoLibrary

Community Issues Forum

No Child Left Inside: How Can We Help Connect Children with Nature?
Event was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Central Resource Library

Is there such a thing as "nature-deficit disorder?” Do children have a biological need to be exposed to the natural world? Whose responsibility is it to make sure that kids get a chance to encounter nature and how can we make sure that these opportunities are available to all? Join our panel of experts from the fields of science, education and community development to explore this important topic.

Flier (PDF) | Exploring Nature Bibliography (PDF) | Web Resources | Nature Walk Ideas Cards (PDF) 

No Child Left Inside Panelists

Julie M. Cheslik, Professor of Law 
Professor Cheslik is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. She received a B.A. degree with highest distinction from the University of Iowa in 1982 and a J.D. with high distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1985 where she was an associate editor of the Law Review. Ms. Cheslik was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1985 and was law clerk to United States District Judge Joseph E. Stevens Jr. from 1985 to 1987. From 1987 until joining the faculty in the fall of 1989, she was in practice with the firm of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, specializing in commercial litigation and general corporate practice. Prof. Cheslik teaches property and land use law and serves as the Editor of The Urban Lawyer.

Brian Davis, Landscape Architect
Mr. Davis is a project landscape architect with Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company. He has worked extensively on conceptual design and construction documentation of parks and athletic complexes, sports fields, and green roof projects. Local projects that he has worked on include the Brush Creek Masterplan and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion, both in Kansas City, Missouri. Established in 1986, the firm of Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company has designed projects as diverse as the landscaping at the Kansas City International Airport, the Okavango Elephant Sanctuary at the Kansas City Zoo, and the Overland Park Arboretum.

Richard H. Mattson, Professor of Horticulture
Dr. Mattson is a Professor in the Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources at Kansas State University. He received his Horticulture Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska (1964) and Horticultural Science Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (1969). He has worked at Kansas State University from 1969 until the present time directing the Horticultural Therapy program. He teaches on-campus and distance education HT courses, has served for three years as editor of the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 15 years on the Board of Directors and three years as Treasurer of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. He is a Fellow in the American Society for Horticultural Science and the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. He has co-authored two HT books and numerous other publications and journal articles. His research work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Society of American Florists, the Horticultural Research Institute, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and horticultural industry.

Bill McGowan, Outdoor Educator
Mr. McGowan is the Outdoor Education Manager for Johnson County Parks and Recreation District where he oversees the Ernie Miller Nature Center and TimberRidge Adventure Center. He grew up in Johnson County and received his Bachelor of Science in Parks and Natural Resources from Kansas State University. Mr. McGowan has worked for Johnson County Parks and Recreation District since 1980, where he first started with the district as a park ranger. Mr. McGowan is regularly invited to present on nature center programs, nature in Johnson County, and outdoor education.

Brad Williamson, Biology Teacher 
Mr. Williamson is a Kansas biology teacher who has taught in small, rural schools, large suburban high schools, community colleges and universities for more than 30 years. Throughout his career he has taken an active role in biology education reform programs such as NSF's Global Lab Project, NSF's GLOBE project and NSF's Project GENE. Along with Chip Taylor, in 1992, Mr. Williamson co-founded the internationally known Monarch Watch project that involves students and other citizen scientists in the study and conservation of the monarch butterfly. He is co-author of the Web-intensive, high school biology text, Biology, Exploring Life. Currently Mr. Williamson is working with the UKanTeach program at the University of Kansas helping to prepare the next generation of science and math teachers. He has served in a number of leadership roles during his career, including president of the National Association of Biology Teachers in 2002.

Dee Wilson, Elementary Environmental Educator
Ms. Wilson is the District Coordinating Teacher at the Blue Valley School District’s Wilderness Science Center. Ms. Wilson graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Elementary Education. Later, she earned a Master’s from Oklahoma State University in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Environmental Education. She has taught for almost 30 years.

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