Category: development

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Canadians Crowdfunded $3 Million to Save Pristine Land from Development

Hey, people in the U.S.: take the time to read this article and maybe we can follow the lead of our neighbors to the north on this, okay?

It’s always incredibly depressing to see untouched, pristine wilderness get purchased and developed by huge, wealthy corporations. Which is why people in Canada decided to take a stand to save 2,000 acres of beautiful coastline in British Columbia.

A crowdfunding effort raised $3 million to purchase the area of coastal wilderness in the Princess Louisa Inlet in British Columbia. The land is virtually untouched and citizens knew they only had one shot to make this work.

The crowdfunding was organized by the B.C. Parks Foundation, a group that works to protect natural landscapes. Logging companies and developers expressed interest in buying the gorgeous land after it was put up for sale by a private owner.

This crowdfunding effort wasn’t just a couple of wealthy people chipping in, either. Average Canadians paid $10 or $15 here and there to contribute to saving the 2,000 acres – and clearly it worked!

The B.C. Parks Foundation will make the land a protected park for all to enjoy.

Dear Park Supporters, You did it! Your love for British Columbia and beautiful places like Princess Louisa Inlet has…

Posted by BC Parks Foundation on Tuesday, September 3, 2019

The organization wrote a letter expressing its gratitude to all the people who donated money.

“Dear Park Supporters,

You did it! Your love for British Columbia and beautiful places like Princess Louisa Inlet has done something miraculous. In just a few short months, you have raised $3 million to protect a jewel in B.C’.s coast.

We still have to finalize the sale with the vendor (now September 3rd), and there are more steps to come, but in donating the funds you have scaled a substantial peak on this amazing expedition.

We know people want to keep B.C. beautiful, and we know our parks are the core of our identity. They are our cathedrals, our towers, our pyramids; the wonders of our world. But we couldn’t have predicted such a fabulous outpouring in such a short time from so many different people and places. We are in a state of awe and gratitude.

We will keep you posted when the deal is finalized. Any funds that continue to come in will be put in our Parks Bank to protect more areas in Princess Louisa and British Columbia.

With our deepest appreciation and admiration,

Ross Beaty, Board Chair
Andy Day, CEO”

Well done! More of this throughout the entire world, please!

The post Canadians Crowdfunded $3 Million to Save Pristine Land from Development appeared first on UberFacts.

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Dinosaur-Obsessed Kids Have Higher Intelligence

I’ve noticed a ton of kids who belong to my friends and family are totally obsessed with dinosaurs. They wear dinosaur shirts, read dinosaur books, and play with dinosaur toys day in and day out. And that’s great news, according to a study that says kids who are obsessed with dinosaurs are smarter than kids who aren’t.

In the psychology world, this phenomenon is called “intense interests.” Roughly one-third of kids develop an intense interest in their lives but for most the obsession usually fades after the age of six.

Photo Credit: Flickr,Mike Mozart

A study from the University of Indiana and the University of Wisconsin found that an intense interest can “enhance perseverance, improve attention and enhance skills of complex thinking as the processing of information”, especially when the interest demands a conceptual domain.

Intense interests have also been shown to improve linguistic skills and are a good indicator of higher understanding. It’s also been shown that the way children study dinosaurs helps them develop strategies to tackle problems throughout their lives.

Interestingly, kids’ intense interest in dinosaurs develops in the first year of life without encouragement from their parents. As mentioned earlier, most of these obsessions pass and only 20% of kids still have the intense interest when they enter school.

Researchers believe that once kids start school and have to devote time to learning new things, they lose their free time to explore their interests. It is suggested that in order to keep your child’s interest alive as they grow up, parents should teach their kids facts about the subject as opposed to letting them have “pretend adventures.”

Make sure those kids keep learning on their own after they start school, and remember, if your child is obsessed with T-Rex, that’s a good thing!

The post Dinosaur-Obsessed Kids Have Higher Intelligence appeared first on UberFacts.

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It Turns Out Kids Who Are Obsessed with Dinosaurs Are Actually Smarter

Do you know a kid who absolutely LOVES dinosaurs? My nephew is obsessed with them, and I was the kind of kid who could describe a paleontologist’s job in great detail back in second grade.

If that describes your kids, that’s great news since a recent study found that kids who are obsessed with dinosaurs are smarter than kids who aren’t.

In the psychology world, this phenomenon is called “intense interests.” Roughly one-third of kids develop an intense interest in their lives but for most the obsession usually fades after the age of six.

Photo Credit: Flickr,Mike Mozart

A study from the University of Indiana and the University of Wisconsin found that an intense interest can “enhance perseverance, improve attention and enhance skills of complex thinking as the processing of information”, especially when the interest demands a conceptual domain.

Intense interests have also been shown to improve linguistic skills and are a good indicator of higher understanding. It’s also been shown that the way children study dinosaurs helps them develop strategies to tackle problems throughout their lives.

Interestingly, kids’ intense interest in dinosaurs develops in the first year of life without encouragement from their parents. As mentioned earlier, most of these obsessions pass and only 20% of kids still have the intense interest when they enter school.

Researchers believe that once kids start school and have to devote time to learning new things, they lose their free time to explore their interests. It is suggested that in order to keep your child’s interest alive as they grow up, parents should teach their kids facts about the subject as opposed to letting them have “pretend adventures.”

Make sure those kids keep learning on their own after they start school, and remember, if your child is obsessed with T-Rex, that’s a good thing!

The post It Turns Out Kids Who Are Obsessed with Dinosaurs Are Actually Smarter appeared first on UberFacts.

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10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Living with ADHD

It may surprise you that living with ADHD is about more than managing your ability to sit still or pay attention – but as someone who lives with a partner who suffers, I can tell you that the way his brain functions infiltrates more areas of his life than I would have believed at the beginning.

So if you have ADHD, this post will hit you in the feels. And if you’re living with (and loving!) someone who suffers, this post might give you a better ability to understand their daily struggles.

#10. They don’t always think before they speak

Photo Credit: Pixabay

And like everyone, what comes out is sometimes inappropriate. They regret it, but they likely won’t apologize.

#9. It’s hard to silence their inner child

Photo Credit: Pixabay

ADHD sufferers often come across as selfish. As adults, they understand that they aren’t going to to be able to do what they want or get what they want all of the time, but sometimes the impatient five-year-old inside of them wins the day and they come off looking poorer for it.

#8. It’s a constant battle between confidence and doubt

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Some days, it’s easy to pretend to have it all together (or do they?) and other days that voice asking when they’re going to stop pretending and admit they suck at everything is too loud to ignore.

#7. It’s hard to let things go

Photo Credit: Pixabay

People with ADHD replay their entire day and obsess over things said (or not said), items not checked off lists, as well as what needs to be done tomorrow – and next week, next month, etc.

#6. Their brains are exhausting

Photo Credit: Pixabay

ADHD minds never stop and never take breaks – and that can be exhausting. The exhaustion can lead to poor behavior and snapped responses, none of which is easy to deal with for the person…or their partner.

#5. It might look like laziness…but it’s not

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Up to 50% of people with ADHD have chronic sleep issues – and it takes awhile for their brains to shake off the fog and get moving. Sometimes hours.

#4. Obsession can be part of the diagnosis

Photo Credit: Pixabay

People with ADHD often live in excess – they spend too much, eat too much, exercise too much, and so on. The obsessive part of their brain isn’t limited to one thing.

#3. It’s part of who they are

Photo Credit: Pixabay

It can be frustrating and challenging and exhausting, but the bottom line is that ADHD brains were made that way, and the people who own them would be different without them. So like the rest of us, they wouldn’t trade who they are for a more “normal” existence.”

#2. They can’t hear you sometimes

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Yes, they’re staring at you and they look like they’re listening, but sometimes their minds have focused on something else. They’re not being rude; it’s just how their brains work.

#1. Hyperfocus is a blessing…and a curse

Photo Credit: Pixabay

People with ADHD get into hyperfocus modes and woe to anyone who interrupts their train of thought. If they lose it, they will lose it for good so think twice about how important their attention really is in that moment.

The post 10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Living with ADHD appeared first on UberFacts.