Children's Health and the Environment Workshop 2010

OVERVIEW • WHO SHOULD ATTEND? • SPEAKERS • CALL FOR PRESENTERS • VENUE • REGISTRATION • IMPORTANT DATES • SPONSORS • QUESTIONS?

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Children’s Health and the Environment:

International Workshop on Research, Policy and Practice

London, Ontario, Canada

overview

The physical environment plays a vital role in child health and development. Safe and sturdy shelter, engaging play spaces, stimulating learning environments, well-connected neighbourhood pathways, vibrant public spaces, and protected natural environments all contribute to the growth, education, and healthy development of children. However, a rapidly expanding body of research suggests that prevailing forms of planning and development are at least partly to blame for rising rates of childhood obesity, respiratory problems, and mental health issues, as well as diminishing physical activity levels, environmental competence, civic engagement, and social interaction.

But how should we work toward creating healthy, supportive environments for children and youth? What is the current state of the evidence? What are the common barriers and facilitators to effectively translating and disseminating research findings to facilitate changes in policy and practice, or to guide interventions?

These were the questions we tackled in a two-day workshop held at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada in June 2010. With an incredible group of speakers from both research and practice, this event aimed to provide an effective forum for knowledge exchange and mobilization among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with healthy environments for children and youth. Workshop attendees collectively endeavoured to identify remaining needs, gaps, and opportunities regarding the current state of knowledge in order to set an agenda for future research and identify pathways to better informing future policies and practices of governments, public agencies, and practitioners.

We are in the process of summarizing the details and notes of the workshop - check back soon for more updates. We are also aiming to provide links to the presentations of our speakers - links will be added to the listing of speakers below as they become available.

A special thank you to all of the participants and sponsors who helped to make the workshop a valuable, productive and inspiring event!.

speakers

workshop day 1 : speaker sessions

Speaker Session 1: Broad perspectives on children's health and their environments

Jason Gilliland Overview of relationships between children's health and the built environment

Director, Urban Development Program & Associate Professor of Geography, University of Western Ontario
Scientist, Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute (Canada)
Editorial Board Member for journal Canadian Geographer

John Howard Promoting a new model for health and healthcare systems

Professor of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario
Physician, Children's Hospital of Western Ontario
Chair, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)

Bill Avison Sociological perspectives on neighbourhoods and children's health
Professor of Sociology, Paediatrics, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario
Scientist and Chair, Child Health and Well-Being Program - Children's Health Research Institute
Assistant Director, Lawson Health Research Institute at London Health Sciences Centre

Speaker Session 2: Child & youth-friendly cities: Concepts, tools and initiatives

Meghan Cope Challenging adultist urbanism

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, University of Vermont
Editorial Board Member for journal Urban Geography

Louise Chawla Growing up Boulder and the Child & Youth Friendly Cities Initiative
Professor, Department of Planning and Urban Design, University of Colorado
Executive committee of the Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research & Design, University of Colorado
Co-editor for journal Children, Youth and Environments
Marketta Kytta Child-friendly, health promotive environments Senior Researcher, Centre for Urban & Regional Studies, Helsinki University of Technology

Speaker Session 3: Child & youth rights and meaningful participation Valerie Fronczek Building global support for children's right to play Communications Officer, International Play Association (IPA)
Editor, ‘Playrights’ magazine
Former Executive Director (retired), Society for Children and Youth of BC

Patsy Owens Youth Voices for Better Places: Young people understanding and advocating for healthy environments
Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, School of Environmental Design, University of California-Davis

Speaker Session 4: Creating healthy, inclusive playspaces for young people Nicole Yantzi Giving all children the right to play: successful stratgies for establishing inclusive playgrounds in the City of Greater Sudbury Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Laurentian University
Chair, Geography of Health and Health Care Specialty Group, Canadian Association of Geographers

Kim Sanderson Play and natural learning spaces - A new crossroads Policy Advisor , Research and Innovation Group of Community Services, City of Edmonton
Chair, International Play Association (Canada)

George Kapelos Sun exposure and the Toronto Playground Shade Audit project Associate Professor, Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University
Visiting Professor, Daniels Faculty of Architecture, University of Toronto
Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
workshop day 2: full schedule

Speaker Session 5: Broad perspectives on children's health and their environments -part II Daniel Rainham Biodiversity and children's health Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University
Elizabeth May Chair is Sustainability and Environmental Health, Dalhousie University

Nancy Wells The physical environment and childhood obesity
Associate Professor, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University

Robin Moore Urban Design for Children's Health: Reviewing and Applying the New Practice Drivers Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Design, North Carolina State University
Co-founder and Director of the Natural Learning Initiative, North Carolina State University
Principal in design and planning firm of Moore Iacofano Goltsman

Speaker Session 6: Healthy schools and school neighbourhoods Dianne Thomson Creating Healthy Environments in Schools Thomson & Associates Educational Consulting
PhD Candidate, Theory and Policy Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, U of Toronto
Former School Administrator, various Ontario school boards

Paul Hess (& Jason Gilliland) Neighbourhood walkability and safe, active journeys to school Associate Professor of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Robin Kearns Walking school bus graduates' perspectives on their experiences of the intervention and current travel behaviour in Auckland, NZ Professor, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Auckland
Assistant Editor for journal Health & Place

Speaker Session 7: Children’s health and natural environments Louise Chawla Integrating nature into children's daily lives Professor, Department of Planning and Urban Design, University of Colorado
Executive committee of the Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research & Design, U of Colorado
Co-editor for journal Children, Youth and Environments

Cam Collyer From grassroots initiative to the institutional support of green school grounds:
Evergreen’s school board partnerships.
Director, Toyota-Evergreen Learning Grounds, Evergreen

Adam Bienenstock Natural playgrounds: Strategies for success
President & Principal Designer, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Board of Directors, Canadian Child Nature Alliance

Speaker Session 8: Special topics and approaches Karen Witten High density living in the Auckland CBD: negotiating trade offs between affordability and suitability for low income households with children Associate Professor, Centre for Social and Health Outcomes, Massey University (New Zealand)
Co-editor, Geographies of Obesity: Environmental Determinants of the Obesity Epidemic

Tanya Charyk Stewart An evidence-based method for targeting a Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention media campaign
Epidemiologist, Trauma Program – London Health Sciences Centre / Children's Hospital of Western Ontario
Adjunct Faculty Member, School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario
Robert Voigt Keep your boots muddy: Design your projects and community to improve liveability, inspire creativity and have fun Community Planner, Planning Services Department, Town of Collingwood

Confirmed speakers include:

• William R. Avison, PhD (Child Health and Well Being)
Professor of Sociology, Paediatrics, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario
Scientist and Chair, Child Health and Well-Being Program - Children's Health Research Institute
Assistant Director, Lawson Health Research Institute at London Health Sciences Centre
Editor of journal Society & Mental Health

Associate Editor of Journal of Health and Social Behavior

• Adam Bienenstock, MBA, Dipl. Horticulture (Research, design & construction of natural playgrounds)
President & Principal Designer, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds

Board of Directors, Canadian Child Nature Alliance

• Caitlin Cahill, PhD (Community-based Urban Studies & Youth Studies)
Assistant Professor, Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah
Steering committee member of the Institute for Participatory Design Research

Affiliate editor for journal Children, Youth & Environments
Editorial Board Member for journal Children’s Geographies

• Tanya Charyk Stewart (Paediatric Trauma Research & Prevention)
Epidemiologist, Trauma Program – London Health Sciences Centre / Children's Hospital of Western Ontario
Adjunct Faculty Member, School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario

• Louise Chawla, PhD (Children's Environments; Children & Nature)

Professor, Department of Planning and Urban Design, University of Colorado
Executive committee of the Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research & Design, University of Colorado
Co-editor for journal Children, Youth and Environments
Member, UNESCO’s Growing up in Cities team

• Cam Collyer (School Ground Greening; Natural Environments and Child Health)
Director, Toyota-Evergreen Learning Grounds, Evergreen

• Meghan Cope, PhD (Urban Social Geographies; Children’s Geographies)
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, University of Vermont
Editorial Board Member for journal Urban Geography

• Jason Gilliland, PhD (Urban Development and Children's Health)

Director, Urban Development Program & Associate Professor of Geography, University of Western Ontario

Scientist, Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute (Canada)

Editorial Board Member for journal Canadian Geographer

• Valerie Fronczek (Child-friendly communities; Children's Play Advocacy)

Communications Officer, International Play Association.
Editor, 'PlayRights' magazine
Former Executive Director (retired), Society for Children and Youth of B.C.

• Paul Hess, PhD (The built environment and pedestrian activity and local mobility; Walkability; Politics of Transportation)

Associate Professor of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

• John Howard, MD (Paediatric Gastroenterology, Ecosystem Health, Pedagogy & Policy)

Professor of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario

Physician, Children's Hospital of Western Ontario

Chair, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)

• George Kapelos, M. Arch, MCP (Human environment relationship; Health and environment)

Associate Professor, Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University

Visiting Professor, Daniels Faculty of Architecture, University of Toronto

Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

• Robin Kearns, PhD (Place and Health)

Professor, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Auckland

Assistant Editor for journal Health & Place

• Marketta Kytta, PhD (Child-friendly Environments)
Senior Researcher, Centre for Urban & Regional Studies, Helsinki University of Technology

• Robin Moore (Child & Family Environments, Health-Promoting Urban Design)

Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Design, North Carolina State University

Co-founder and Director of the Natural Learning Initiative, North Carolina State University
Principal in design and planning firm of Moore Iacofano Goltsman

• Patsy Eubanks Owens, PhD (Physical Environment and Youth Health & Well Being)
Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, School of Environmental Design, University of California-Davis

• Daniel Rainham, PhD (Children and Environmental Stresses)
Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University
Elizabeth May Chair is Sustainability and Environmental Health, Dalhousie University

• Kim Sanderson (Child-friendly Environments; Inclusive Environments; Policy)
Policy Advisor , Research and Innovation Group of Community Services, City of Edmonton
Chair, International Play Association (Canada)

• Dianne Thomson (Education Policy and School Environments and Curriculum)

PhD Candidate, Theory and Policy Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Educational Consultant; Former School Administrator

• Robert Voigt, M.A (Urban Design & Design Standards; Healthy Communities)
Community Planner, Planning Services Department, Town of Collingwood

• Nancy Wells, PhD (Relationships with Built and Natural Environments through the Life Course)
Associate Professor, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University

• Karen Witten, PhD (Interactions between physical and social elements of neighborhoods; Spatial Inequities)

Associate Professor, Center for Social and Health Outcomes, Massey University (New Zealand)

Co-editor, Geographies of Obesity: Environmental Determinants of the Obesity Epidemic

• Nicole Yantzi, PhD (Socio-spatial Inclusion and Exclusion of Children with Disabilities)
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Laurentian University
Chair, Geography of Health and Health Care Specialty Group, Canadian Association of Geographers

call for presenters (papers & posters)

We invite proposals for both papers and posters to be presented at the workshop on topics related to children’s

health and the environment, from a wide range of disciplines. A limited number of spaces still remain for paper

presenters; those wishing to be considered for a paper session should also include a short biography of no more

than 500 words with their abstract submission. Accepted papers will be included in an edited volume. Full papers

(approx 5000-7000) for all accepted speakers are to be submitted by June 1, 2010. All other accepted abstracts will be invited to present a poster during interactive poster sessions. Submissions from graduate students for posters are welcomed. Additional details on paper and poster guidelines will be sent with acceptance notices.

format for abstracts

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted in English using Arial 12 pt Font, and should include a title

and up to 5 key words. Up to 3 key references may be included beyond this word length. Abstracts should also

include name of author(s), postal address, email address, phone and fax numbers.

Abstracts are due for submission by May 1, 2010 to urban@uwo.ca.

We will begin sending out notices of acceptance immediately after April 1, 2010.

venue

The workshop will be held in London, Ontario, Canada at the beautiful Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre of the University of Western Ontario.

This gorgeous Georgian estate will be the setting for all workshop activities, and can also accommodate all workshop attendees requiring overnight accommodations. All guest rooms include complimentary high-speed internet access and a large work desk.

The property also boasts 30 acres of parkland where guests can enjoy on-site walking and cycling trails, outdoor recreation, and a high-ropes team building course. Amenities include site-wide complimentary wireless high speed Internet, free parking, free fitness centre, private dining room, casual bar and games room, and licensed patio.

The special reduced guest room rate for all workshop attendees is only $95 CDN per night!* Rate includes complimentary breakfast! Attendees can only reserve rooms at this special workshop rate by providing their workshop registration confirmation number. * Note that this reduced rate is available for up to 2 nights; additional nights available for special rate of $114 CDN. Click HERE for more information on the venue.

The City of London, Ontario is the 10th largest city in Canada. Located at the heart of the SouthWestern Ontario region, London is easily accessible to many tourist destinations. The city has an International Airport with direct connections to other major airports in Canada and the United States, and is within a two-hour drive to other major cities, including: Toronto, Ontario; Detroit, Michigan; and Buffalo, New York.

directions to spencer ivey centre NEW!

Spencer Ivey Leadership Centre

551 Windermere Road London, ON N5X 2T1, Canada

http://www.dolce-spencer-leadership-centre-hotel.com/

From London International Airport: (Approximately 10 minutes)
When you drive out of London International Airport you are on Oxford Street. Follow Oxford Street to Adelaide Street. Turn right onto Adelaide Street. Turn left onto Windermere Road. Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre is just past the first traffic light on the left-hand side.

From Toronto: (Approximately 2 hours)
Hwy 401 West to London - take Veterans Memorial Parkway (formerly Airport Road). Exit the first London exit. Follow Veterans Memorial Parkway Road until it ends; turn left onto Huron Street. Follow Huron Street to Adelaide Street and turn right. Turn left onto Windermere Road. Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre is just past the first traffic light on the left-hand side.

From Windsor: (Approximately 2 hours)
Hwy 401 East to London - take Wellington Road North exit. Follow Wellington Road until it ends (through downtown). Turn left onto Pall Mall Street to Richmond Street, turn right. Follow Richmond Street to Windermere Road and turn right. Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre is just past the first traffic light on the right-hand side.

From Detroit: (Approximately 2 hours)
Hwy 401 East, exit Wellington Road. Turn left on Pal Mall Street, travel back one block. Turn right on Richmond Street to Windermere Road, turn right. Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre is on the right-hand side.

Google Map of Spencer Ivey Leadership Centre location

pre-workshop training sessions

Four optional 2-3 hour 'training sessions' will also be offered the day before the workshop, on June 28. The theme of the training sessions will be: ‘Effective strategies for data collection and knowledge mobilization around children’s health and the built environment’. An example of a training topic to be offered is: ‘Using web and geographic information tools and technologies for knowledge dissemination and mobilization’. Information on proposed sessions will be available shortly at www.healthycities.ca. Final schedule will be based on expressions of interest indicated on registration forms. The cost to participate will be $25 per person. Training session fee does not include lunch, but facilities will be available nearby for purchasing food and refreshments.

Select any of the session lists for a full description of each training session being offered. Be sure to list your order of preference on your registration form.

                   Session 1
                               Go Green: An Action Plan for Your Program
                                 Conducted by: Phil Boise, Green Care for Children, Gaviota, California
                                www.greencareforchildren.org; www.gogreenratingscale.org
                                 Session Duration: 3 hours

                        Session 2
                                 Making the Most Out of Your Spatial Data: Using Google Earth and Geographic
                                  Information Tools and Technologies for Information Mapping, Presentation, and Mobilization.
                                 Conducted by: Human Environmental Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario London
                                             Session Duration: 3 hours

                        Session 3
                                  Designing Natural Playgrounds (Be prepared for outdoor interactive participation)
                                  Conducted by: Adam Bienenstock, President and Principal Designer of Bienenstock Natural
                                  Playgrounds  www.naturalplaygrounds.ca
                                  Session Duration: 3 hours

                        Session 4
                                  Cancelled (Sorry, Session 4 from Evergreen had to be cancelled)
                                  Evergreen www.evergreen.ca
                                  Session Duration: 3 hours

directions to training session locations NEW!
Note all three training sessions will be held on the main campus of The University of Western Ontario. Directions to the University can be found by clicking HERE. A training session registration desk will be located on the main level of the Social Science Centre (West Entrance - See Campus Map below). Follow the signs to the registration desk. Participants should plan on meeting at this location no later than 12:50 pm Monday June 28th, 2010.

UWO CAMPUS MAP (click here)
UWO CAMPUS PARKING (click here)
Shuttle Bus Schedule from Spencer Leadership Centre - ASK TO BE DROPPED AT the SOCIAL SCIENCE Centre (click here)

workshop schedule overview

Date Time Event Location

Mon. June 28^th 11:30-1pm Registration (for those attending University of Western Ontario (see note above)

training sessions ONLY)

1-4pm Training Sessions (Optional; University of Western Ontario

need to register to participate) (Various Locations - See Above)

2-8pm Registration / Information Spencer Ivey desk - South Atrium

Tues. June 29^th7:15-8:20 am Registration (closes at 8:20am) Spencer Ivey desk - South Atrium

7:15-8:30 am Continental breakfast and coffee Spencer Ivey desk - South Atrium

6:45-8:15 am Breakfast for overnight guests Asher's Lounge

8:30am-5pm Workshop Day 1 Spencer Ivey Leadership Centre

6:30pm - ? Social Evening (includes dinner Aeolian Hall (Downtown London)

for all workshop attendees; (shuttles to/from Aeolian available)

transportation provided)

Wed. June 30^th 7:15-8:30 am Continental breakfast and coffee Spencer Ivey desk - South Atrium

6:45-8:15 am Breakfast for overnight guests Asher's Lounge

8:30am-5pm Workshop Day 2 Spencer Ivey Leadership Centre

detailed workshop schedule NEW!

Day 1: Tuesday, June 29th
	8:30-9:00am	Welcome and Opening Remarks

	9:00-10:15	Speaker Session 1: Broad perspectives on children's health and their environments
			Jason Gilliland	Overview of the relationships between children's health and the built environment
			John Howard	Promoting a new model for health and healthcare systems
			Bill Avison	Sociological perspectives on neighbourhoods and children's health

	10:15-10:35	Break

	10:35-11:50	Speaker Session 2: Child & youth-friendly cities: Concepts, tools and initiatives
			Meghan Cope	Challenging adultist urbanism
			Louise Chawla	Growing up in cities
			Marketta Kytta	Child-friendly, health-promotive environments

	11:50-12:00pm	Remarks from The Honourable Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

	11:50-12:30	Breakout Session 1

	12:30-1:40	Lunch and dose of sunshine

	1:40-2:55	Speaker Session 3: Child & youth rights and meaningful participation
			Valerie Fronczek	Building global support for children's right to play
			Caitlin Cahill	My body, my community, my concerns: Creating inclusive spaces with young people for participation
			Patsy Owens	Youth Voices for Better Places: Young people understanding and advocating for healthy environments

	2:55-3:15	Break

	3:15-4:30	Speaker Session 4: Creating healthy, inclusive play spaces for young people
			Nicole Yantzi	Giving all children the right to play: successful strategies used in establishing inclusive playgrounds
			Kim Sanderson	Moving towards inclusive playground policies and standards: Case studies from Edmonton, AB
			George Kapelos	Sun exposure and the Toronto Playground Shade Audit project

	4:30-5:10	Breakout Session 2

	5:10-5:15	Final remarks and Details for Evening Social Reception & Dinner at Aeolian Hall (London's Old East Village)

	5:15pm	Free time

	6:15pm	First shuttle bus leaves for Aeolian Hall for those wanting a ride

	6:45pm	Second shuttle bus leaves for Aeolian Hall

	7:15pm	Reception opening remarks and surprise guest speaker!

	* Note: shuttle buses will be available at various times in the evening to return people to the Spencer Ivey Centre

Day 2: Wednesday, June 30
	8:30-8:35am	Welcome back

	8:35-9:50	Speaker Session 5: Broad perspectives on children's health and their environments II
			Daniel Rainham	Biodiversity and children's health
			Nancy Wells	The physical environment and childhood obesity
			Robin Moore	Advances in healthy lifestyle research and implications for the urban design of neighbourhoods


	9:50-10:35	Break & Interactive Poster Session

	10:35-11:50	Speaker Session 6: Healthy School Environments & School Neighbourhoods
			Dianne Thomson	Creating Healthy Environments in Schools
			Paul Hess & Jason Gilliland	Neighbourhood walkability and safe and healthy journeys to school
			Robin Kearns	Walking school bus graduates' perspectives on their experiences of the intervention and current travel
				behaviour in Auckland, NZ

	11:50-12:30pm	Breakout Session 3

	12:30-1:30	Lunch and dose of sunshine

	1:30-2:45	Speaker Session 7: Children's Health & Nature; Natural Environments and Playgrounds
			Louise Chawla	Integrating nature into children's daily lives
			Cam Collyer	From grassroots initiative to the institutional support of green school grounds: Evergreen’s
				school board partnerships.
			Adam Bienenstock	Moving beyond the barriers to creating 'nearby nature' in children's everyday environments

	2:45-3:00	Break

	3:00-4:15	Speaker Session 8: Special topics in children's health and the environment
			Karen Witten	High density living in the Auckland CBD: negotiating trade offs between affordability and suitability for
				low income households with children
			Tanya Charyk Stewart	An evidence-based method for targeting a Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention media campaign
			Robert Voigt	Keep your boots muddy: Design your projects and community to improve liveability, inspire creativity
				and have fun - Case study on the development of Collingwood's Urban Design Standards

	4:15-4:50	Breakout Session 4

	4:50-5:15	Regroup and final discussion; Thank yous and goodbyes

registration

Note: There are a number of participants who have paid for the workshop for whom we have not yet received a registration form.
If you do not have a registration confirmation number, please contact:

Eric Simard
Urban Development Research Assistant
519-661-2111 x 83425

Registration for all workshop presenters and attendees begins April 1. Workshop spaces are limited and will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Registration forms are available here: registration. Forms are fillable PDFs that can emailed directly to urban@uwo.ca or else printed and faxed to 519-661-3750.

Registration for the 2-day workshop is as follows:

Registration Fees: $250 CDN***

Registration fees include continental breakfast, buffet lunch and coffee/snack breaks on both days of the workshop. Accommodation costs are not included, but confirmed registrants will received a significantly reduced rate on guest rooms at the workshop site (See above for details).

***Note that substantial discounts on registrations fees will also be available to organizations / institutions / departments that send 4 or more attendees to the workshop. Please inquire for details to urban@uwo.ca

A limited number of partial scholarships for graduate students will be made available to reduce registration fees; priority will be given to graduate students who are presenting posters. Graduate students can send in a request for a workshop scholarship along with their abstract submission. Students are encouraged to inquire early.

important dates

• May 1:   Abstracts Due *CLOSED*

• June 26: Registration Closes!

• June 1:   Full papers due for paper presenters
• June 28:   Pre-workshop training sessions
• June 29-30:   Workshop