Photograph Courtesy of <a href="http://www.familyandfootprints.coml/">family+footprints</a>. Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. I see you over there reading all about the benefits to the outdoors. Kids running free in the woods. Climbing trees. Splashing in puddles. Overturning rocks. You want to love it. You really do. It looks like everyone is having a…
When I imagine enjoying the outdoors with my family, there are few things that are often part of this vision. It is warm, but not hot; sunny, with maybe a few clouds here and there; and never raining or snowing. My vision is colorful and temperate and let’s be honest,…
Talking about forest play is perfectly fine when you actually have a “forest” nearby, but for many of us, finding an untouched, preserved area of natural land close to home can be challenging. What surrounds us can often be at odds with our vision of forest exploration. Take the suburbs. Live there…
It didn’t take long for me to realize that my young daughter and I can have different intentions when we walk through the woods. If it’s just me on a walk, I plan to hike or stroll from point A to point B – and point B is usually a fair distance…
Communities have much to offer in the lives of our children, as well as for us adults. Chances are, if you are part of an outdoor play community, you’ve already felt the benefits of having like-minded and supportive people around you. You know how special these groups are in your weekly rhythms. If you…
Outdoor play is a powerfully beneficial activity for kids, but in today’s day and age it’s happening less and less. Enter forest schools, group-based outdoor experiences for youth. Forest schools are relatively new to the US, but are catching on as parents hear about or witness first-hand, the immediate benefits…
