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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'>Dear Community Groups,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'>This fall, an exciting new community-wide event will raise awareness about the benefits of nature play for children. To offer children and families many opportunities to get out into nature, the <b>Take A Child Outside Week</b> planning committee is inviting organizations to submit programs or activities in Champaign County for inclusion in this community event’s calendar. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'>The benefits of nature are profound and varied - research suggests that children who play outdoors in nature are more likely to engage in creative play, have healthier body weight, greater capacity for concentration and self-discipline, greater motor skills, are less likely to experience depression, and more likely to grow up to be environmental stewards.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'>Goals for Take A Child Outside Week:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Help youth develop a better understanding and appreciation for the natural world, and a burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Provide parents, teachers and other caregivers with the tools and resources to facilitate youth engagement with nature <o:p></o:p></p><p class=Default style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world, especially for underserved populations </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'>Will you join us? Please see the attached letter and proposal form to find out how to get involved. Visit <a href="http://www.ccfpd.org/childoutside/home.html">http://www.ccfpd.org/childoutside/home.html</a> for more information about the events planned for this weeklong celebration. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:31.5pt;text-autospace:none'>Proposal Deadline: August 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We hope you can join us!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Rage Italic";color:#E36C0A'>Pam </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>Pam Leiter</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>Assistant Director, Museum & Education Dept </span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>Champaign County Forest Preserve District</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>Homer Lake Interpretive Center</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>2573 S. Homer Lake Road</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>Homer, IL 61849</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>(v) <a href="tel:217.896.2455" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>217.896.2455</span></a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>(f) <a href="tel:217.896.2361" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>217.896.2361</span></a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#1F497D'>(e) <a href="mailto:pleiter@ccfpd.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>pleiter@ccfpd.org</span></a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>