FALL 2002
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Local Business Gets Involved :: To be a Young Friend, or not to be :: The Mini Millstone

The Mini Millstone
By Tracy Elliman

I was recently inspired after reading The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. The book has challenged me to instill an appreciation of nature in my two-year-old daughter, Teddy. (To quickly dispel any Mini Millstone scuttlebutt, she was NOT named after our 26th President.)

As many of you may know, Roosevelt was an ardent conservationist. One of his first environmental accomplishments was the creation of the Boone and Crockett Club to "preserve forest regions- as nurseries and reservations for woodland creatures which would die out before the march of settlement." The Boone and Crockett Club was largely responsible for the successful passage of the Park Protection Act which established Yellowstone National Park.

It is quite possible that Roosevelt's passion for protecting nature was an inherited trait. After all, his family motto, "Qui plantavit curabit," translates to "He who has planted will preserve."

Assuming that not all of us have environmentally-friendly family mottos, how can we build a sense of environmental awareness in our children? How we can teach them about the importance of land preservation and the ways it helps our communities?

To start, you can take your children to the Laurels Reserve. Explain to them that this land is permanently protected so that the animals will always have a place to live. Show them the red cedar, witch hazel, flowering dogwood and oak trees that the Young Friends planted on October 12. Explain how the trees will increase the availability of food and shelter for wild turkeys and other wildlife in the Laurels.

Another way to inspire those young, developing minds is to read to them about nature. I recommend the following books and have included a brief synopsis of each.

Watching Nature by Monica Russo (For ages 4-8)
Chock-full of tips on how to spot and identify, by sight or by sound, animals, insects and plants in various seasons and habitats, how to create a backyard sanctuary and how to record observations.

Protecting Our Air, Land, and Water by Gary Chandler and Kevin Graham
(For grades 5-7)
Three books that focus on people of different ages and walks of life and the environmental changes that they have effected.

The Usborne Complete First Book of Nature
Almost all children are fascinated by living things. This book will help them understand and appreciate the plants and animals around them.

Most importantly, have fun while teaching by example. Take your kids on a hike through the Laurels Reserve or walk along the Brandywine River. Tell them why these places are special. Explain how adults are working hard to protect them. Inspire them to take part someday in saving more land for their children to explore!


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