#FlintFor5 — Flint the Therapy Dog Meets Outside For 5

Let’s Get Outside for 5 Big Benefits — with Flint the therapy dog!

Julie Koenig, Speech Language Pathologist and Reading Specialist at Marlatt Elementary School in Manhattan, Kansas shared this #OutsideFor5 story about the school’s therapy dog, Flint, with us, and we want to share it with you!

Outside for 5 is a pledge campaign from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) encouraging educators and caregivers to take students outdoors for at least five minutes a day, five days a week. Developed in 2022 to combat pandemic-related mental health declines, the initiative highlights five key benefits:

• Enhanced learning

• Mental health support

• Physical health

• Collaboration skills

• A connection to nature

On Monday, April 20th, KACEE staff Rachel Wahle and Ashlyn Kite-Hartwich, and eeCorps members Amanda Campanella and Angela Kendall, “presented on the vision of growing a healthy, vibrant, and resilient Kansas with respect and understanding of our needs for professional development. They certainly met the purpose of connecting environmental educators with valuable information and ideas that could be implemented the very next day!” 

Julie shared: "Outside for 5 really hit home for me. On Tuesday morning we took #OutsideFor5 and paired it with #FlintFor5 — by including our Therapy Dog, Flint! We talked about research and how it shows that spending time in nature is important to our physical and mental health, and how a Certified Therapy Dog in school can also positively impact our health!

Modeled after Outside for 5, #FlintFor5 allows each class to have five minutes with Flint while we reinforce the importance of nature, putting our devices down, and taking care of each other with kindness.  Kids take a leadership role by coming to pet Flint in groups and then signaling the next group. Five minutes with little disruption, sense of joy, and IMPACT!

Our lessons in the Speech and Language room will continue to incorporate understanding of the environment and responsible use of our resources with Flint leading the charge! We have some other ideas in the works, too!

No doubt that the seeds planted about environmental education by Rachel and her team will continue to support educators and our students leading the way with healthy habits, leadership that protects our environment, and golden hearts spreading acceptance and kindness!”

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Julie! Flint is just the goodest boy.