Building Bridges 2012 is committed to supporting the school systems and the daycares within our communities in helping our children learn, grow and develop to their fullest potential. Building Bridges 2012 is currently involved in putting together a parent group to collaborate with our local teachers and daycare providers to support them and work to bring resources to the systems that empower children and families. Two programs we are seeking to explore and offer as a resource to the school systems and daycares are the Heartmath program and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). These two programs are geared to assist children in identifying feelings, processing emotion and stress and regulating their behavior and emotional responses in order to enhance their ability to learn. The programs are centered on developing emotional intelligence and an understanding of energy psychology as it applies to children's learning and behavior.  The Institute of Heartmath is a research based organization dedicated to helping children learn. EFT – The Emotional Freedom Technique ~ was created to assist people with identifying, understanding and processing their feelings and is easily adapted to children. These two programs are critical for the development and health of our children. Additional information about these two programs can be found at www.heartmath.org and www.emofree.com.

We are currently looking for volunteers and practitioners who would like to assist us with this project as we will be seeking funding for a pilot program here in Foster.  Please contact Joy Poland at joyppoland@aol.com if you are interested in participating.

Side Note: Dan Goleman's (Ph.D., Psychologist and author of the New York bestseller “Emotional Intelligence”) exhaustive research on emotional intelligence demonstrates that; “Success in life is more often determined by an individual's ability to manage ones emotions and their emotional intelligence (EQ) rather than their Intelligence quotient IQ.”

Emotional Intelligence is defined as:

1. The ability to identify ones emotions

2. The ability to manage ones emotions

3. The ability to motivate oneself

4. The ability to recognize emotions in others and connect with other individuals.

Dan's website is http://www.danielgoleman.info/blog/

Building Bridges 2012 is committed to supporting our children through holistic approaches to education and raising environmental awareness. It is critical at this time for our children to be educated using all of their senses as well as developing a strong connection to the earth, nature and the environment. The No Child Left Inside Coalition was created in 2006 to find new ways to encourage kids to experience nature and learn about the environment. We must better prepare young people to understand and overcome the major environmental challenges we are facing today as well as educate them on the importance of sustainable living practices.

Building Bridges 2012 Memberships:

• “No Child Left Inside” Coalition
  
• RIEEA Rhode Island Environmental Education Association
  
• The Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living

Building Bridges 2012 is currently looking for volunteers to assist us with developing the “No Child Left Inside” Program locally in Rhode Island . Please email joyppoland@aol.com if you are interested.

About the No Child Left Inside Coalition

The Coalition was created in 2006 to find new ways to encourage kids to experience nature and learn about the environment. 

To meet the goals, we support the No Child Left Inside Act , which would provide new federal funding for outdoor learning activities and high-quality environmental education. We are confident that once they are up close with nature, kids will become more engaged with the outdoors and care more deeply about protecting their environment. Stronger environmental education will pay unexpected dividends in the classroom.

We believe we must better prepare young people to understand and overcome major environmental challenges, including global climate change.  We were driven by the recognition that America 's young people are growing increasingly disconnected from nature spending more time inside and not outside playing, exploring and learning. This is a disturbing trend that is contributing to a host of problems, including childhood obesity and nature deficit disorder. Even outdoor recess is in jeopardy according to the National PTA.  

As author Richard Louv has documented, students who take part in environmental learning do significantly better in school. Why? Because the best learning takes place when all the senses are engaged, and that happens most readily outside in nature. Kids who get caught up in the wonders of nature will also be far more engaged when it comes time to learn about science in school.

Today the Coalition has grown to over 500 member organizations, representing more than 43 million people, including environmental, education, public health and business groups, all of whom appreciate the value of getting kids outside.

Please join us! Go to www.cbf.org for more information on how to support the coalition.

Please take action today and encourage your members of Congress to support the No Child Left Inside Act.