Outdoor Activities for Kids – Kids Discover Nature

Rain, rain go away….

by MCC

Let’s go out and play anyway!

It has been raining a lot this fall. There was a week of beautiful weather, which allowed a lot of outside play time, but now it’s raining again. It’s easy to enjoying every moment of time spent in nature when the weather is nice, but when it’s drizzly it is definitely a challenge. Sometimes you just have to put on your rain hats, boots and raincoats and head out. One you do, you may not take long for before your kids discover that a pile of dirt makes a great slide. Up and down they’ll on their bottoms and their bellies. Try not to stop them because you worry that they will ruin their clothes and watch the fun ensue. That’s what play clothes are for anyway!

Another great rainy day activity is puddle jumping. Make some fun with the puddles collecting in the yard and around the neigborhood. Your kids will have a blast getting soaked up to their chests while jumping into them. You may not have thought much about this, but puddles offer a terrific learning experience for children. You can discuss with them how puddles are formed from rain, what happens when you splash in them and what happens to them after it stops raining. You can also find things to toss into puddles and things to float on top. Try finding natural objects around your yard such as stones, leaves, grass, pinecones and flowers. Discuss what happens to each one when you throw them in the puddle. Sort them into piles and ask your children guess what will happen to each item – some float and some sink. You can have a great time testing the various objects over and over again. You will be amazed by how something so simple can keep kids mesmerized.

Before long, an hour or more may pass before you realize you are all soaked and muddy. You’ll burst inside laughing about how wet you are and then enjoy changin into our dry, cozy clothes.

Your son or daughter may not remember this time you spent together, but you may never forget it. That’s the thing about spending time in nature. The memories you create while being out there last a lifetime.

News

Two Reasons to Spend Saturday Outdoors

by MCC

There are two good reasons to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather this weekend — Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day and also National Public Lands Day. The purpose of these celebrations is to encourage families to spend time in the outdoors while learning about and caring for our national heritage at the same time.

National Hunting and Fishing Day is always celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September. The federally recognized day brings together sportsmen and women from across America to celebrate the rich tradition of hunting, sport shooting and fishing through organized local, state and national events aimed at introducing new audiences to the outdoors. National Hunting and Fishing day events are taking place all over the country and you can easily find one near you by checking checking out the official NHF Day website. Many offer opportunities to fish, hunt, target shoot or participate in workshops, contests, learn outdoor and camping skills, see live birds of prey and much, much, more.

National Public Lands Day is a celebration of our nations public lands. Each year, for the past 16 years, citizens of this country “lend a hand to the lands” that we use to hike, bike, climb, swim, fish, hunt, explore or picnic and just plain relax. One third of America’s land is in public hands, and it’s our duty to maintain them. An estimated 130,000 volunteers will grab shovels and gloves to improve the nation’s public lands on every fourth Saturday of September as part of National Public Lands Day, an annual event held at over 2,000 sites across the country. Not only is it a chance for you and your family to tour a well-known park and or monument but it is also a great lesson in stewardship, volunteerism and responsibility for your kids.

Camping with kids

Backyard Camping with Kids: Easing Fears of Night Noises

by Jodi Valenta

This is the third post in the series Backyard Camping with Children.

It is natural for a child to have questions and misunderstandings about the night. This creates fear that can be overwhelming to a child. But alas, help is here. Night sounds can be especially scary for little ears. My daughter’s first experience hearing an owl while we were camping in the backyard affected her for a long time. I had previously taught her about owls and how they sound. We even read the book Owl Moon. But I never took the time to prepare her for what she would hear while camping in our backyard. When she first heard the “hoot” of a Barred Owl in our woods, she covered her ears, burst into tears, screamed at the top of her lungs, and ran into the house at top speed. Needless to say, our campout came to an abrupt end.

I was totally unprepared for that reaction and for the fallout. It took several months to convince her to try camping again and to come to terms with owls and their “hoots.” To help parents avoid this mishap, I developed the following tips for helping children overcome fears of the night while camping. Following these tips will go a long way in preparing your child for the first “hoot.”

Essential Guide for Easing Childrens’ Fear of the Night While Camping

Discuss what they will hear (crickets, frogs, owls, coyotes, etc.), see (moths, raccoons, skunks, opossums, bats, etc.) or feel at night (insects, spider webs, etc.).
Explain why creatures are out and about at night (nocturnal vs. diurnal, finding food, mating, etc.)
Explain why they make sounds at night (calling to one another, guarding territory, etc.)
Read books about night creatures. Borrow books from the local library about camping in general, nocturnal creatures, or any animal in which they show a special interest.
While camping, focus less on the “dark” and more on how beautiful night time can be. Observe the stars and the moon. Talk about the “music” of the night.
Do not expect children to sleep outside all night. Take small steps by allowing them to sleep inside in their own beds when bedtime arrives. Another option is to allow them to fall asleep in the tent and then transfer them to their beds.
Practice for night time camping outside by camping inside first. Set up tents in the family room complete with sleeping bags, pillows, books, and flashlights and encourage them to sleep there for the night.
Hearing night time sounds can be fun if you make it a game. Ask children to identify what sounds they hear.
Allow children to fall asleep with their flashlights.

Birds

Quick & Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids

by Jodi Valenta

A few weeks ago I surveyed readers to determine their favorite outdoor activities to do with their children. The results showed that you overwhelmingly like camping and hiking. Frankly, I was surprised because these activities require a lot a preparation and planning. However, I totally get it because the rewards are great as both activities afford children an excellent opportunity to explore nature and spend valuable time with their families. Plus, summer is the perfect season for camping vacations and weekend hikes!

Now, with summer quickly winding down and children heading back to school, there will be less time to enjoy these activities and it will be harder to make time to enjoy the outdoors. All the demands of the school year have returned, with homework, after-school activities, less time off and, well, you know the drill. It makes the challenge of getting outside more difficult. However, with all those demands comes stress, so it’s even more important that kids (and you!) spend time in nature.

I thought it would be helpful if I provided a list of some outdoor activities for your children that don’t take much time or effort. They can be done even if you have only 30 minutes to spare one morning, afternoon or evening. Print it out and keep it on the fridge for quick reference for those days you need a quick idea.

1) Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
2) Explore your backyard with a magnifying glass.
3) Before bedtime, do a little stargazing on the front step.
4) Do some birding.
5) Pull weeds in the garden and look for bugs.
6) Look for interesting rocks and stones.
7) Play backyard games like tag or hide-and-seek.
8) Eat an afternoon snack outside on a blanket in the grass.
9) Try to catch butterflies with a butterfly net.
10) Spread a blanket out on the grass, lie down and look up at the clouds.

Not only are all of these activities fun, but they also promote relaxation, creativity and several include a splash of exercise!

Please comment on this post and add your own ideas. The school year is long, vacations are short, and we can all use some time to connect with nature, even if it’s only for a few minutes a day!

Camping with kids

The Essential Backyard Campout Safety Checklist

by Jodi Valenta

This is Part II of my series on camping in your own backyard.

When camping with children in your backyard, it is important to know how to keep everyone safe. Even though you are in familiar territory, it is surprisingly easy to experience mishaps. If you prepare correctly, you can keep these to a minimum. Plus, following safety protocols is the smart things to do. If your kids are old enough, you can review them together and have them help you prepare. It can be a fun learning experience for the entire family. Below are some basic tips to consider. I encourage you to do some research to help you prepare your family for fun in the backyard!

Essential Backyard Camping Safety Checklist

Use common sense while camping, especially if you have a campfire.
Have the proper equipment and tools (see my post Must-Haves for Backyard Camping for details).
Chose a safe campsite (a flat spot free of large obstacles like rocks and tree stumps)
Keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of children (matches, knives, insect repellent)
Learn about and teach children about campfire safety if you plan to have one (a good resource is SmokeyBear.com)
Teach children to stay within eyesight or earshot.
Respect wildlife. Never approach or touch wild animals, use a camera instead.
Be aware of your surroundings and watch where you step.
Pay attention to weather conditions.
Do not leave children alone at the campsite.
Have first aid essentials available in the house.
If you are sleeping outside for the night, put all food away in the house before going to sleep to avoid attracting animals to the campsite.
Remember to be prepared for the unexpected, do not take unnecessary chances.
Supervise your children at all times!

Many of these are intuitive, especially for moms, but it doesn’t hurt to do a quick review once in a while. My goal in writing this was to provide an exhaustive list, but I am sure I have missed a few important points. If you would like to add your thoughts, please do so in the comments section.

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