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Elk River Nature Educator Sparks a Nature-Child Reunion With Her New Children’s Book

Press Release Submitted by Constance (Connie) Nelson

Elk River Nature Educator Sparks a Nature-Child Reunion With Her New Children’s book, “Oakie Dokie’s Happy Roots” - Grow up happy!

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“Someone wise once said, if trees had a voice, they could tell us some things about growing up…but trees don’t talk…or do they? Hold on for a big surprise!”

Introducing the Bark Buddie Band of Trees®! Not your ordinary bashful, backyard trees, no siree, Bark Buddie Trees® are trunk yappin’, root tappin’, leaf clappin’, gettin-twiggy-with-it trees embarking on a mission to ROOT-4-KIDS! The Bark Buddie Band of Trees® gets kids motivated to kick up their roots with musical “ROOT-ines'' like the theme song, “The Root Skootin’ Boogie” while sharing valuable life, and STEAM curriculum lessons found only in nature! So who is the creative spirit behind this “tree-mendously'' fun and timely project?

Connie Nelson with Bark Buddie plush

Meet Connie Nelson, former global radio talk show host, member of the World Branding Hall of Fame, VirNatural Media Creator, Nature Educator, Pianist, Interior Designer and creator of the “Nature-Child Reunion” movement and founder of “Planting Tomorrows”, her former global radio talk show. Connie is all about planting seeds of motivation and inspiration to raise healthy, happy children! Her background in Education, her love for God’s creation, children and the wonders of nature, gave her the “out-spiration” inspiration to write her newly released children’s book, “OAKIE DOKIE’S HAPPY ROOTS – Grow Up Happy”! Through the voice of wise Big Bark Buddie Tree, young green sprout, Oakie Dokie Oak Tree discovers the six roots of character education to help him grow up strong and HAPPY! Connie has created and developed outdoor education programs and workshops for organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, McDonalds, and numerous school, retail and cultural events. Her trademarked Big Bark Buddie® costumed tree character has appeared all over the country in parades, events and in school programs partnering with Walmart. Her newest project, her children’s book, has now been released for children around the world!

“Stopping by a sparkling stream to stick their roots in the cool water, Big Bark playfully splashed Oakie, getting his attention, “When you put down strong roots, you will not be so easily talked into doing wrong things. Happy Roots keep you on the right path in life! “All young sprouts,even the people kind, need six strong roots to grow up happy!...Oakie started to perk up.”

Connie’s rural upbringing in the Elk River area and playing outdoors in the hills and creeks along with her father’s love of nature and God, gave her the strong roots to turn her creative talents and energy into her mission of sparking a “Nature-Child Reunion”. “Children are born with an innate sense of wonder for nature…my goal is to tap into that sense of wonder during the most impressionable season of a child’s life and harvest the wonder to educate, engage, enlighten and entertain.”

Studies have shown that children exposed to the outdoors and nature perform higher academically and are healthier, happier and much more balanced in life. COVID has shown us the negative psychological and physical impact of being cooped up indoors. But outdoors, children are more fully alive, they learn the value of stewardship, time outdoors boosts self- esteem and immunity, enhances problem solving skills, builds mental and physical muscle “Plus, nature spaces stimulate children’s limitless imaginations, ignite their senses and instill a sense of caring for others …in a nutshell, they grow up happier”, Connie passionately says. “Nature-deficit disorder” is a term coined about 20 years ago to describe the growing disconnect of children with nature. Today, kids spend hours a week compared to minutes a week outdoors and the cost is being paid in terms of health and well-being. Connie’s books, workshops, outdoor educational programs and upcoming stage shows with the “Bark Buddie Band of Trees”, a four season band, will guide children to the new “FUN-TIER” – the GREAT OUTDOORS to grow up happier, healthier and smarter! Her Bark Buddie Tree® characters will be the voice of most of her books. “Children need nature like they need oxygen to be healthy.”

By partnering with local, regional and national corporations, schools systems and governments, Connie’s mission is growing more awareness about the need for children to balance their time between being indoors plugged into screens, devices and the greatest teacher of all, nature. “Nature is our best teacher, she unfolds her treasures to our search, unseals our eyes, illuminates our minds and purifies our hearts, one of my favorite quotes”, she goes on. Anything Microsoft offers in the virtual digital world cannot hold a candle to logging on to nature – the best playstation of all, no wires or wifi needed and it’s hands-on learning at its’ very best!” It’s crystal clear Connie’s passion for her “NatureChild Reunion” is contagious. Her newly released book is just one of many more in the “NatureChild Reunion” series coming down the road. “Connecting children to nature, connects them to God, naturally”, she emphasizes. “I’m on a mission to reconnect youngsters to the marvelous intelligence of nature by creating and nurturing nature connections across the media landscape, to engage, enlighten, entertain and educate. How can we expect a child to see the value of caring for others if they never see a bird with a broken wing or experience something so much bigger than their own little cocoon?”

“OAKIE DOKIE’S HAPPY ROOTS” is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, other retailers or through the publisher at www.westbowpress. com. Connie can be reached for “FUN-TIER Playday” workshops, tree planting events and for outdoor educational consulting projects by email at plantingtomorrows@suddenlink.net or call 304-545-8808. The hardback edition will make a keepsake gift for any child and stay tuned to her Facebook pages “Nature-Child Reunion” and “Bark Buddie Trees” for book signings, tree planting events and other outreach in the next few months.

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