IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 860 

Supporting the initiatives of Chicago Wilderness and the Children’s Outdoor 

Bill of Rights. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 22, 2009 

Mr. QUIGLEY (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, and Mr. JACKSON of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the initiatives of Chicago Wilderness and the 

Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. 

Whereas the Chicago Wilderness is an alliance of over 240 

organizations that contribute toward the biodiversity and 

the quality of life in Chicago’s metropolitan region; 

Whereas in 2007, Chicago Wilderness launched the ‘‘Leave 

No Child Inside’’ initiative with the goal to get more children outside and to increase the amount and quality of 

time that they spend there; 

Whereas unstructured, outdoor play is important for the 

wholesome, balanced development of the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills of children; 

Whereas research has demonstrated that outdoor play helps 

children manage stress; 


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Whereas it is shown that natural spaces stimulate children’s 

limitless imagination and foster creativity; 

Whereas children who connect with nature become more inventive and better problem-solvers due to the hands-on 

learning that outdoor environments provide; 

Whereas participation in wilderness therapy programs is associated with improved functioning in the academic performance, interpersonal relationships, and household behavior of teenagers; 

Whereas hiking and walking activities have been shown to 

lower high blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and combat 

obesity; 

Whereas being active in outdoor activities, such as fishing, is 

correlated with reduced Attention-Deficit Disorder symptoms; 

Whereas the presence of natural amenities near the homes of 

low-income urban children is associated with higher levels 

of cognitive functioning; 

Whereas children who grow up spending time in nature are 

also more likely to be strong advocates for the environment when they reach adulthood; 

Whereas the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights joint resolution passed the State of Illinois; and 

Whereas the Illinois General Assembly proclaimed June as 

‘‘No Child Left Inside Month’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the initiatives of the ‘‘Leave No

3 Child Inside’’ initiative; 


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1 (2) encourages the President to issue a procla2 mation in support of the goals and ideals of the 

3 Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights; 

4 (3) encourages other States and territories of 

5 the United States to support the goals and ideals of 

6 the ‘‘Leave No Child Inside’’ initiative; 

7 (4) encourages media and press organizations 

8 to participate in the ‘‘No Child Left Inside Month’’; 

9 and 

10 (5) recognizes and encourages the Children’s 

11 Outdoor Bill of Rights commitment to fight obesity, 

12 physical disorders, and unawareness of natural 

13 amenities by promoting quality outdoor activities for 

14 children and adults. 

Æ 


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