Originally published in 2005. Includes bibliographical references (pages 317-332) and index.

Louv talks with parents, children, teachers, scientists, religious leaders, child-development researchers, and environmentalists to find ways for children to experience the natural world more deeply and updates the growing body of evidence linking the lack of nature in children's lives and the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. pt. I. The new relationship between children and nature. Gifts of nature -- The third frontier -- The criminalization of natural play -- pt. II. Why the young (and the rest of us) need nature. Climbing the tree of health -- A life of the senses: nature vs. the know-it-all state of mind -- The "eighth intelligence" -- The genius of childhood: how nature nurtures creativity -- Nature-deficit disorder and the restorative environment -- pt. III. The best of intentions: why Johnnie And Jeannie don't play outside anymore. Time and fear -- The bogeyman syndrome redux -- Don't know much about natural history: education as a barrier to nature -- Where will future stewards of nature come from? -- pt. IV. The nature-child reunion. Bringing nature home -- Scared smart: facing the bogeyman -- Telling turtle tales: using nature as a moral teacher -- pt. V. The jungle blackboard. Natural school reform -- Camp revival -- pt. VI. Wonder land: opening the fourth frontier. The education of Judge Thatcher: decriminalizing natural play -- Cities gone wild -- Where the wild things will be: a new back-to-the-land movement -- pt. VII. To be amazed. The spiritual necessity of nature for the young -- Fire and fermentation: building a movement -- While it lasts -- A field guide: notes from the field, 100 actions we can take, and discussion points.