5 Easy Ways To Get Your Kids Outdoors This Summer
Do you ever wish that your kids would love the outdoors as much as you do?
Back when you were a kid you couldn’t wait to get outside with your friends. You didn’t think much of it, it was what kids did.
Things are different now.
Kids can entertain themselves with Netflix, video games and cell phones for hours. Going outside isn’t seen as the cool thing to do anymore.
Or at least that is what they tell you…
The reality is your kids want to get outdoors, but don’t want the adventure to be boring or not have any challenge to it.
We’ve come up with five ideas to get your kids excited and make this the best summer yet.
1. Geocaching
If you haven’t had a chance to try geocaching with your kids yet, this is the year to give it a go!
Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunting game.
Using a GPS or a smartphone, you can move to a set of coordinates and find a hidden “geocache” or treasure box.
It’s a great way to develop both your teamwork and navigation skills in the outdoors.
Before you embark on your journey, determine the difficulty of the route and the size of the geocache. If you are new to geocaching, look for a 1-star difficulty rating and a larger sized geocache.
Make sure you pack lots of snacks and water for this adventure as you’ll be out for a good part of the day.
2. Gardening
While this isn’t an adventurous activity it still counts as a way to get your kids outside.
There are many benefits in planting a garden with your kids such as:
- You’ll be able to have great conversations around what supplies to buy and how to best grow your family garden.
- Physical activity, moderate sunlight exposure and a relaxing environment.
- Being able to spend time together without the distractions of everyday life.
- A deeper level of respect and care for the environment through composting.
If you don’t have access to a gardening space of your own, we’ve got some solutions for you. Many towns across North America have community gardens. These are a great way to have access to your own garden plot and connect with other members of your community. If there aren’t any community gardens in your town, you can always buy a tomato plant or herbs for your balcony or patio.
3. Regional Parks
These are a great way to get out in your area and are have different types of activities.
Regional parks are great for hiking, bird watching, sightseeing and more.
Finding regional parks in your local area shouldn’t be too hard.
Start by doing a search online with the terms: your city + regional park
If you can’t find anything, the next step is to do a search for a tourism or city website.
Pack a frisbee, a deck of cards and a few books and you’ve got all the makings of a fun-filled day.
4. Water Sports
If getting out on the water is a part of your summer plans, here are some great activities that you can do with your kids.
Canoeing is a great way to explore together and a way to take in all the sights and sounds of the wilderness.
Make sure to pack hats, sunscreen, a delicious lunch and snacks to keep your kids content.
Another option is stand-up paddle boarding.
These boards are long and sturdy and make for a comfortable and stress-free activity out on the lake.
It will allow your kids to stand up and see more of the environment all around them.
Be a good role model and make sure you are wearing your life jacket at all times on the water.
5. Adventure Challenges
This is a great way to get your kids motivated and excited to get outdoors this summer.
With a bit of creativity and knowledge of your community.
You can create simple adventure challenges for your kids to take on.
Here are a few examples:
Do an online search for a geocache at your favorite park then get out and go find it!
Discover three different types of birds while out on a bike ride – try and snap a photo if you can.
Pick your favorite lake and get out on a canoe with your family – bonus points if you help pack a picnic.
See how easy it is?
These challenges have a simple goal and are made to win. Make sure to pack a camera as you’ll want to remember all the adventures that your family will have together.
If you want to make the challenges even more fun, reward your kids with a prize at the end of the season.
For example:
Complete 5 adventure challenges and you will get a night out at the movie theater
Complete 10 adventure challenges and you will get a lesson at the rock climbing gym
Complete 20 adventure challenges and the family will get a new kayak
The idea behind the rewards is to get them excited about being in the outdoors all year long. It will also give your family the opportunity to bond together and create memories for years to come.
If you like the idea of adventure challenges, but don’t have the time to do the research and put them together.
You’ll want to check out our Adventure Challenge Club. Each season we will send your family a list of challenges to complete. Each one that you check off will give your family an extra chance to win awesome outdoor prizes.
Discover how you can get the challenges here.
