50 States in 50 Days' Adventure Helps Kids Get into Nature | Gimundo

50 States in 50 Days’ Adventure Helps Kids Get into Nature

A Denver teacher is climbing each state's highest peak in a campaign intended to help combat obesity in kids, and rid America of “nature-deficit disorder.”

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on July 02 2008

Last year, Denver teacher Mike Haugen climbed to the top of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. That may sound like a tough climb to top, but this year, he’s going for a new record: He’s decided to climb the summits of the highest mountains in each of the 50 U.S. states on an expedition sponsored by the Coleman Company.

Even more impressive? He’s doing it all in 50 days.

The stops on Haugen’s cross-country journey range in difficulty, from the gentle 345-foot slope of Britton Hill in Florida to the intensive 20320-foot peak of Alaska’s Denali. He’ll probably be ready for a rest at the end of his journey - but it’s all for a good cause.

Haugen’s “50 States in 50 Days” adventure is a campaign intended to help combat obesity in kids, and rid America of “nature-deficit disorder.” During his journey, which began on June 9th, he’s posting blog entries, video diaries, and photos to share stories of his adventures on America’s highest peaks.

Though Haugen isn’t expecting too many kids to follow in his footsteps immediately, he’s hoping the adventure will serve as a great dose of inspiration to help children start to enjoy the wonders in their own backyards.

Helping children fall in love with the outdoors is “kind of what I geared my life around,” Haugen told the Union Leader. “It’s important to show people what opportunities there are in their own backyard. Once they start getting out, they really enjoy it.”

Filed under: General Interest, Green,

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