In 2006, after publication of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder,” the Phoenix Zoo, in partnership with Changing Hands Bookstore and the Arizona Girl Scouts, brought its author Richard Louv to Phoenix to do a public presentation and discuss the book and his concerns about a growing nature deficit disorder in part resulting from children living a more sedentary lifestyle connected to their world largely through technology.

Before the presentation, Richard and Phoenix Zoo Executive Director Jeff Williamson had time to tour the Zoo and share their mutual concern about reconnecting young people to nature. They visited about the public’s response to the book and how it was being embraced around the country. Richard talked about establishing a national organization to connect people, best practices, and research surrounding reconnecting kids to nature. 

His presentation was exceptionally well received here in Phoenix. In attendance was a broad spectrum of people from a variety of backgrounds. After the presentation many approached me about “What’s next?” and “So what do we do?” A small group decided to come together to try and answer those questions. We convened periodically to share what we were doing, where need existed, and how best to respond. We were informal but we were growing by word of mouth. 

After about 24 months and as the national Children and Nature Network formalized, our group grew and was refined as Be Outdoors Arizona. We decided it needed a strategic plan, goals, a vision and mission, and to become more formalized if it were going to be as effective as it could be. This last year we became a not for profit corporation. We are a confederation of nature-centered program providers across the state of Arizona who enjoy common values and are committed to ensuring all young people have continuous opportunity to engage nature and participate in community stewardship in ways that add value for all.