Young people should have less screen time and more experiences in the natural world.

That’s the message Cheryl Charles, president and CEO of The Children and Nature Network, is hoping to spread to younger generations.

During a lecture Wednesday evening at Free State High School, Charles expressed concern about the amount of time children are spending with electronic devices.

“I am not against technology,” Charles said. “Their creativity isn’t enhanced to the degree that it is so naturally when they have that grounding experience in the out-of-doors.”

Charles is touring the country, urging today’s children to get outside for a few hours a day to explore nature and reconnect with the outdoors.

“Time to turn over rocks, climb a tree, to play outdoors and investigate their environment,” Charles said. “With that, kids grow up to be happier, healthier and smarter.”

Charles isn’t new to the environmental education arena. She has spent the past 20 years serving as the national director for Project Learning Tree and Project WILD, two of the most widely recognized environmental education programs nationwide.

“When children are spending 45 to 60 hours a week hooked into the electronics, that’s an indicator of a lot of things being out of balance,” she said. “We need to be thinking about ways children can get outdoors and play — unrestricted play.”

The latest research shows children age 15 are on average spending 35 minutes a week outdoors during the course of the weekend, and that’s just not enough, Charles said.

“We are just trying to do what’s best for our children and our community,” she said.

To learn more about The Children and Nature Network, visit childrenandnature.org.