When a child loses the ability to roam free, much is lost indeed. Recreational foraging may impart a sense of ownership in local natural environments. On the other hand, denial of access to forests may result in political indifference to their fate and damage by persons who use them but do not care about them. The only way we can recognize what is being lost is by first discovering what we have around us. The importance of foraging goes beyond conservation - it helps produce a sense of shared cultural identity.
Yes. My wife is a biologist, and I too love to be out (except that I also love to work at the computer). We've talked many times about frequently taking our kid(s) to explore our surroundings. We were fortunate that our parents did the same for us with hiking tours, kayaking, visiting the tide pools, etc. Letting us acquire what Rachel Carson called The Sense of Wonder.