Mon., Feb. 1, 2010
Event encourages kids to play outside

Eddie Trout, from "Partners for Clean Water," visits the state Capitol today as part of a "Be Outside" celebration by the Idaho Children and Nature Network. There are displays, kids, a storyteller and more in the fourth floor rotunda as part of the event, and the Kiwanis Boys Choir will sing the "Be Outside" theme song at noon on the Capitol steps and at 1 in the fourth-floor rotunda. The reason for all this: To fight "nature deficit disorder" and get kids to play outside again. Gov. Butch Otter has issued a proclamation, a concurrent resolution is pending in the Senate and the state's congressional delegation has sent a letter in support of the effort.