At last month’s White House Summit on Environmental Education, there was much handwringing by my fellow panelists and other advocates about the sorry state of environmental education — and science education in general — in our schools. Cabinet officials reiterated their support for making environmental education more important, but there was little in the way of specifics. Ideas such as using innovative technology to simulate environmental experiences were touted, but perhaps the most promising way to improve science teaching and environmental education is also the simplest: get kids outside more. Children will learn more about the natural world by spending a few hours in it than days in front of a computer — and it’s healthier for them too.

Read the full column at TIME.com