Well, I think it's important for many reasons. First, children are really learning about the world. They are full of questions, they're curious, they have an open mind, and all their senses are activated. And, nature provides children a place to explore, to discover all sorts of new and unexpected things, whether it's frogs in creeks or stars in the sky. Being in nature provides hands-on learning for kids, which is really different than watching a television program on nature.
Nature also gives children a place to play, a place they can run and jump, swim, and build forts.
They can use their imagination and have make-believe games. It's a great place for them to go exploring. They can also spend quiet time in nature, having a special place where they can go and be by themselves and have some quiet time away from the television, and the music, and the radio, and computers for a little while. It gives them some balance. This hands-on exploration gives children a sense of appreciation for nature.