Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights comes to Lake Los Angeles

Lake Los Angeles – On Tuesday evening July 9, in the heat of the day, over 100 LLA people, big and little, were present at Stephen Sorensen Regional Community Park (SSOR) in Lake Los Angeles to see, feel, hear and experience wildlife presented by Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries.

They experienced live wildlife demonstrations at 15 minute intervals, received written information and visited with the dedicated and passionate employees of the Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries and representatives of the Antelope Valley Audubon Society. The Antelope Valley Audubon provided the children with coloring pages to take home and enjoy. One activity that was popular was instructing how to build a safe fire and safely roast s’mores.

With recent concerns about youth detachment from outdoor activities, lack of physical exercise and increased health risks, the California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks and Tourism adopted the California Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights for the purpose of recommending a fundamental list of experiences that every child in California would benefit from experiencing, before entering high school.

The Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights recommends a fundamental list of experiences that every child in California would benefit from experiencing, before entering high school. A partial list of experiences includes playing in a safe place, exploring nature, learning to swim, going fishing, following a trail, camping under the stars, riding a bike, going boating. Connecting with the past and planting a seed.

There are more events planned at SSOR with notices will be sent out so everyone possible can be reached and attend. We will provide the school with notices so every LLA family will receive the information. Within 60 days approximately, there will be an office of the Wildlife and Wildflower Sanctuaries established to continuously promote the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights activities in the community.

Pictures of children are avoided unless there are release forms available. Here are some photos from the July 9 incredibly successful presentation, please click on each photo and enjoy:

By Shirley Harriman