The Governor's Conference on Youth and the Natural World will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Augusta Civic Center.

The aim of the conference is to bring together parents, government leaders, educators and others to find a way to encourage children to participate in outdoor activities. An increase in indoor activity is fueling childhood obesity and threatening children's physical and mental health, organizers say.

The keynote speaker is Larry Selzer of the National Forum on Children and Nature. Gov. John Baldacci is scheduled to speak at the conference as well.