When the Kansas Wildscape Foundation was founded in 1991, Governor Mike Hayden wanted to create a private organization that could work in partnership with the state to create outdoor access and opportunities in Kansas, without the budgetary and regulatory constraints of state government. Kansas has the least amount of public land per capita of any state in the U.S. The initial Wildscape Board of Directors was comprised of some very capable people (I was not particularly capable, but willing) from all over the state. Since its inception, the public-private partnership has done some impressive work, including placing seventy-three cabins in state parks, creating river access points, facilitating land donations and developing wildlife areas. One of the group’s areas of emphasis, from the beginning, was to get youngsters to understand and enjoy the terrific outdoor opportunities in Kansas, instead of sitting at home playing with a computer joystick. Richard Louv, a Raytown native, documented the hazards of this sedentary trend in his excellent book, Last Child In The Woods, where he describes a syndrome called “Outdoor Deficit Disorder.”
In 2001, I challenged the board to find a new program to engage youngsters in outdoor activities. My good friend, Mike Vineyard, came up with the idea of Outdoor Kansas For Kids. O.K. Kids was enthusiastically embraced by the Department of Wildlife and Parks and quickly became a success. Each year, over 40 sites across the state sign up to host the O.K. Kids Program. Participation has steadily grown through 2016 with over 13,000 Kansas youth and their parents/grandparents annually enjoying their day outdoors at different sites throughout Kansas. Events are free to all participants and open to all.
A few years ago Charlie Black, executive director at Wildscape, felt that the program still wasn’t realizing its potential. Kids today continue to spend more time indoors watching television and/or playing video games. A new program evolved that couples the technology of the internet and the simplicity of nature.
The WildLifer Challenge encourages parents and children of all ages to become more involved in the outdoors through the use of an interactive, web-based program that challenges children to accomplish 15 outdoor “WildLifer” challenges. The challenges are simple and the participants use computer technology to document their accomplishments. Once a participant has completed 15 of the 20 challenges, he or she receives official “Kansas WildLifer” status and a WildLifer pack of outdoor items, WildLifer identification materials and a glow in the dark WildLifer t-shirt. Registration is free on line and any parent or kid can sign up merely by going to www.kansaswildlifer.com. This is a very easy way to engage youngsters in a terrific summer activity that will give them a sense of accomplishment, self-assurance, and a path that leads away from Outdoor Deficit Disorder.
Give it a try and bond with a youngster on a level he or she will enjoy.
- Bob Beachy
