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Arizona Parks & Recreation Association |
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October 2007 |
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But, it is a different world today. APRA is more than 50 years old. How do we continue to serve our members and adapt to this changing world? At conference, the 17th surgeon general of the United States, Dr. Richard Carmona told us that 9 million kids in America are obese. He said, “If this trend continues without intervention, OUR kids will be the first generation in America to live shorter lives than their parents.” This is a national crisis. Dr. Carmona also told us that 70 % of today’s health care costs goes to treating preventable disease. During the conference workshop on Nutrition and Physical Activity, Dr. Cheryl Charles, president of the national Children and Nature Network said, “For kids ages three to twelve, 92% of parents will not let their kids play outside because they are afraid. It is a different world! Last year at the National Recreation and Park Association Congress in Seattle, the Honorable Dirk Kempthorne, US Secretary of the Interior, spoke to the delegates about the importance of what we do as Parks and Recreation professionals. He said, “Many people, especially young people, have become separated from the power of the great outdoors to renew and revive the human spirit. Vast numbers of children spend much of their lives in windowless rooms playing games online, games in which the hunted are often human.” What impressed me most were these comments from Kempthorne, “You and I are in the business of changing this. We are in the business of renewing the connection between people and the outdoors. Of getting people out of cyberspace and into open spaces…of getting them to put down their blackberries and go pick blackberries.” Our theme for the 2008 APRA Annual Conference and Trade show and my challenge to you is to “LEAVE NO CHILD INSIDE!” Our very talented and energetic team for the conference will be led by Ann Wheat from the City of Phoenix and Annie McVay from Arizona State Parks. These two ladies are passionate about this theme and as Ann said, “At a time when 1 out of every 5 children, and 1 out of every 3 adults in our nation is obese—and text messaging has become a recreational pastime – helping people to unplug, get up, and get outside is more crucial than it’s ever been.” Annie |
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A Message from the President, Cont. |
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believes too that everyone's connection and interaction with nature is unique and different. But it's hard to imagine that everyone doesn't have some meaningful connection to nature. Annie said, “Understanding this connection is especially relevant to every facet of the parks and recreation field. If the next generation is losing its connection to nature, we are the professionals to provide the resources and opportunities to reconnect.” In order to truly understand the varied meaning of "Leave No Child Inside," we are hosting the APRA “Leave No Child Inside” Photo Contest. For more information, visit www.azpra.org. Our Past President Shirley Medler had the vision to see toward the future and you, the members of APRA, had the faith to believe in me through your continuous support as I prepared to become your next president. It is through this support, and that of our past president Joel Weeks, that I now have the courage to move into this new position. It has been a very exciting learning process for me and I am looking forward to serving you.. Jeff Spellman |
