Calling All Kids:
Reconnect with Nature &
the Environment
A nationwide movement to
reconnect children with
nature seeks to address
the disturbing fact
that, according to the
National Wildlife
Federation, today’s kids
are more disconnected
from the natural world
than any generation
before. There are
parents, educators, and
experts everywhere
talking about it. But
who’s talking to the
kids?
Super Natural Adventures
is. The Web site
features videos created
by three brothers—Ryan
(13), Michael (11) and
Will (10) - who moved
with their parents from
the suburbs of
Milwaukee, WI, to the
jungles of Costa Rica in
2005. The intention
behind the family’s move
was to live a simpler
life, closer to nature.
Super Natural Adventures
(SNA) brings viewers
along on their rain
forest adventures.
Using local experts and
educators, the Jacobus
brothers explore rain
forest creatures like
sloths and cultural
traditions such as the
ancient process of
making chocolate. The
show isn’t just
something to kick back
and watch, however. The
call to action is for
kids everywhere to head
outside and explore
their own backyards,
parks and forests. SNA
offers a modern-day
reward to young people
who engage in this
old-fashioned activity:
a kids-only venue on
which to post their
nature-focused videos,
photos and essays.
“SNA has a dual
purpose,” said Maggie
Jacobus, the boys’
mother and the
director/producer of the
videos. “The first is
for our boys to share,
on a kid-to-kid level,
what they’re learning
and discovering while
exploring the rain
forest. The second is to
inspire kids everywhere
to get excited about
nature, especially their
local environment. Kids
don’t want to be
preached to about the
environment. If you just
get them outside and
connected to it, the
desire to protect it is
a natural outcome.”
The SNA site also has
information for parents
and educators, including
a blog from Jacobus, aka
Jungle Mama. Jacobus, a
professional journalist
and internationally
published author, has
yet one more personal
goal with SNA: “The
advent of User-Generated
Content (UGC) on the web
is an exciting trend.
Anyone can now be a
‘published’ reporter,”
she says. “I want to
guide kids to create
interesting, thoughtful,
well-written content.
Our site can play a role
in taking the UGC trend
to a new level of
quality.”
Super Natural Adventures
is a nature show for
kids, by kids that airs
over the Internet on an
interactive website.
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