How children spend their time--indoor versus outdoor play  
Local garden hopes to bring children back to nature    

             Boxerwood Gardens Play Trail provides a safe place where children can explore the woods.   

By Hilary Craig

Children in the United States are spending more time indoors and less time outside.

Faced with an increase in homework, available technology, and safety concerns, children are becoming further isolated from the natural world. In addition, when children are outside they are generally practicing a sport or engaged in another structured activity.

Many are worried that the decrease in unstructured outdoor play is significantly harming children's creativity, environmental awareness, and even causing childhood obesity. Boxerwood Gardens in Lexington, VA hopes to correct this problem.

Explore the various aspects of the innovative play trail What parks are already in the area? View an interactive map of types of parks in Rockbridge County. Last Child in the Woods Richard Louv's book addresses the problem of children spending less time outside.         A day at the park Karen Bailey (KB) talks about the benefits of the play trail.

Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.

Lead supervisor:      Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisors:

Prof. Doug Cumming

Prof. Phylissa Mitchell

Prof. Brian Richardson

Technical supervisor:  Michael Todd