Secrets To Great Outdoor Adventures

Plan Nature Outings Your Children Will Love

With Summer approaching as the states slowly lift their shelter in place orders, the outdoors sounds like new adventures waiting for families to explore with fresh eyes and appreciation. Nature outings are an excellent way to spend time together as a family and help your children develop an admiration for the natural world. No matter where you live or your children’s ages, there are infinite incredible ways to connect with nature and family.

Nature Outings Close to Home:

Play in your backyard. There are so many things to see in your very own backyard. Put up different bird feeders and learn to distinguish different species and their habits. Take advantage of a rainy day to teach your children about the water cycle. Think low and inspect the insects that share the same space as your family. Want new animals to observe? Research what attracts them and plant it. If you like butterflies, then plant some milkweed.
Have a themed picnic with all the extras. Layout a sheet and look at the clouds or the night stars. Choose the outdoors to do things that you can do inside like making bead bracelets during the day, or watching a movie at night.

Get to know your neighborhood. Magically transform your routine walk into an expedition. Pick up some guidebooks to learn about your local plants and wildlife—Investigate to identify various trees and observe seasonal changes. Take note of any landmarks, and get to know your neighbors.

Visit local parks and other attractions. Opportunities wait in every community to visit zoos, parks, and other nature preserves. Plan excursions to the closest beach or lake. Check online to find children’s programs at your local park or natural history museum. Dive deeper and learn some history about the attractions themselves. Let your children act a local tour guide and share their newly found knowledge.

Nature Outings Away From Home:

Explore state and national parks. Camping in state parks is an excellent bargain for a family adventure. The National Park Service Junior Ranger program lets children earn badges for various educational tasks.

Add outdoor activities at your vacation destination. Be sure to include some outdoor entertainment wherever you go on vacation. If you visit relatives, get familiar with the facts about their region, and use them to educate your children about environmental diversity.

Social distancing cramping your summer camping? Once everything opens up, summer camp is a great way to enrich children’s experiences with an introduction to new knowledge and new friends. To find an accredited program that matches your child’s needs lookup The American Camp Association.
But if it’s too soon, then put on a day camp with your children in your home. Plan the curriculum, meals, make journals, and badges. Make it as fun and as real as possible. Need a night event? Set up camp in your living room or your backyard.

Planning With Babies and Younger Children:

Introduce your baby to nature. It is never too early to get excited about the earth. Listen to bird songs with your baby. Admire colorful flowers along with your infant. Even you don’t think they understand, talk them through what you’re seeing. Use descriptive words and involve as many senses as you can.

Read guidebooks and maps together. Integrate guidebooks and maps into your family reading. You can point to pictures of animals and plants and repeat the names along with smaller children. Point out both the things you saw or things you want to see. Let your children pick out books and read passages to the family as they get older.

Keep a record. Scrapbooking is so much fun. Create a blank, paged journal with your child. Let them decorate their cover. They can narrate and preserve their nature observations with words or sketches. Be sure to use different recording methods and media like taping photos, pressing flowers, and gluing plants. The journal is a sure way to carry the conversations home and keep them entertained. They can also see their progress over time and help keep them motivated. Even if they can’t write, you can have them draw and then explain their artwork to you. Be sure to dictate their explanation on the back for great keepsakes or gifts to family members who live out of town.

Start a collection. Invite your child to bring back trophies from your outings, such as interesting stones, seashells, or flowers. Give them an inexpensive camera so they can take their own pictures. Photographs are a great way to revisit adventures through your child’s eyes.

Include the family pet. Domestic animals can help teach your children about other species and the role of instinct in animal behavior. Pay attention to what your dog is doing. Discuss how to tell a dog’s mood by the position of his ears and tail.

Relax, and have fun. Enjoy the time. Look at the clouds, smell the roses, observe your surroundings and smile. Adapt your ventures to your child’s attention span. Use their enthusiasm to recommend new topics to investigate. Roleplay, and have fun.

Planning Nature Outings for Older Children and Teens:

Invite them to lead. Allow older kids to take the lead. By guiding younger children, they can be positive role models and develop a sense of fulfillment. If you have more than one older child, have them take turns, or assign routes.

Include their peers. As your child grows older, they will be more focused on socializing with peers. Let them invite a friend along when your family goes on outings.

Encourage their interests. Support your child’s developing interests. For example, if they get excited about solar energy, take them to a local university lecture on the subject. Work on projects together and learn with each other.

Nature outings can help you raise healthier children who appreciate and respect the environment. Enjoy your time together and celebrate the natural wonders that are present in every community.