The New Good Life: Resources
The resources below are just a starting point for accessing more information about some of the activities that help create the new good life. Obviously, they're just a fraction of what's out there, but my hope is gradually to compile a strong list of fun and helpful references. Please watch for regular updates, and if you would like to add a reference, please contact me at <lisameekison@yahoo.com>.
Happiness & Well-being
Action for Happiness: http://www.actionforhappiness.org
The Blue Zones: http://www.bluezones.com
Authentic Happiness: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
The Happiness Project: http://www.happiness-project.com
Play
Right to Play: http://www.righttoplay.com
The Strong: http://www.thestrong.org
“An unparalleled, collections-based educational institution devoted to the study and exploration of play through its five Play Partners.”
The National Institute for Play: http://www.nifplay.org
The National Institute for Play believes that as play is woven into the fabric of social practices, we will dramatically transform our personal health, our relationships, the education we provide our children and the capacity of our corporations to innovate.
KaBOOM!: http://kaboom.org/
KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
Play England: http://www.playengland.org.uk
Play England's vision is for England to be a country where everybody can fully enjoy their right to play throughout their childhood and teenage years, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 31 and the Charter for Children's Play.
Getting Outside
Richard Louv: http://richardlouv.com
“The future will belong to the nature-smart—those individuals, families, businesses, and political leaders who develop a deeper understanding of the transformative power of the natural world and who balance the virtual with the real. The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.”
The National Parks Service: http://www.nps.gov/index.htm
“Since 1916, the American people have entrusted the National Park Service with the care of their national parks. With the help of volunteers and park partners, we are proud to safeguard these more than 400 places and to share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year.”
The High Line: http://www.thehighline.org
“High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.”
Bay Nature: http://baynature.org
“Exploring Nature in the San Francisco Bay Area.”
Outdoors Alliance for Kids: https://sites.google.com/site/outdoorsallianceforkids
“OAK (Outdoors Alliance for Kids) is a national strategic partnership of organizations from diverse sectors with the common interest in expanding the number and quality of opportunities for children, youth and families to connect with the outdoors.”
Evergreen Brick Works: ebw.evergreen.ca
“Open year-round, Evergreen Brick Works is a community environmental centre that inspires and equips visitors to live, work and play more sustainably.”
Parks Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx
“Reboot. Escape. Discover.”
David Suzuki Foundation: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/connecting-youth-with-nature
“Solutions are in Our Nature.”
Project Wild Thing: http://www.projectwildthing.com
The National Trust: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
“Life is for living, and the countryside is definitely the place to do it.”
Dance, Movement & Exercise
Let’s Move: http://www.letsmove.gov/initiatives
“America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids”
Ballroom Dancers: http://www.ballroomdancers.com
“Learn the Dances.”
Cool Running: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/4
Arts Alive http://www.artsalive.ca/en/dan/dance101/links.asp
“Continue your journey into the world of dance by traveling around the web.”